Shloka 115

गृहस्थस्य सदाचारः: शौच, तर্পण, वैश्वदेव, अतिथिधर्म, भोजन-विधि, संध्योपासन, ऋतु-धर्मः

Devanagari script

नादक्षिणां नान्यकामां नाकामां नान्ययोषितम् क्षुत्क्षामाम् अतिभुक्तां वा स्वयं चैभिर् गुणैर् युतः

Transliteration

nādakṣiṇāṃ nānyakāmāṃ nākāmāṃ nānyayoṣitam kṣutkṣāmām atibhuktāṃ vā svayaṃ caibhir guṇair yutaḥ

Translation

He should not take as wife one who lacks generosity, whose desires run elsewhere, who is indifferent to dharma, or who is attached to other men; nor one wasted by hunger and hardship, nor one spoiled by excessive indulgence—while he himself must be endowed with these virtues.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात (negative particle)

• अदक्षिणाम्: not compliant/inauspicious
• अदक्षिणाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक विशेषणम् (feminine accusative singular; ‘not right/inauspicious’ or ‘not compliant’)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात (negative particle)

• अन्यकामाम्: desiring another (man)
• अन्यकामाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य + कामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अन्यं कामयते) विशेषणम् (feminine accusative singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात (negative particle)

• अकामाम्: unwilling, without desire
• अकामाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक विशेषणम् (feminine accusative singular; ‘without desire/unwilling’)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात (negative particle)

• अन्ययोषितम्: another man’s woman
• अन्ययोषितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य + योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अन्यस्य योषित्) (feminine accusative singular)

• क्षुत्क्षामाम्: emaciated from hunger
• क्षुत्क्षामाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुत् + क्षामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (क्षुत्या क्षामा) विशेषणम् (feminine accusative singular)

• अतिभुक्ताम्: having eaten too much
• अतिभुक्ताम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिभुक्त (कृदन्त; √भुज् धातु + अति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) विशेषणम् (feminine accusative singular; ‘over-fed’)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Karta (Agent emphasis/कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वार्थक अव्यय (reflexive adverb: ‘oneself’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction: ‘and’)

• एभिः: with these
• एभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (instrumental plural: ‘by/with these’)

• गुणैः: qualities
• गुणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (masculine instrumental plural)

• युतः: endowed (with)
• युतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) विशेषणम् (masculine nominative singular; ‘endowed/connected’)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya within the dynastic/royal-dharma narrative frame)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Qualities to avoid/seek in choosing a spouse; self-qualification of the husband

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Marriage is to be grounded in virtues like generosity, fidelity, and moderation, and the man must embody the same qualities he expects.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Choose partnerships based on character and mutual commitment; cultivate in yourself the virtues you seek in others.

Vishishtadvaita: Reciprocal virtue in relationships reflects the Lord’s governance as ethical order—dharma is relational, not merely individual.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• King/Householder (implied)

FAQs

What is the significance of marital discipline in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames marriage as a dharmic institution: fidelity, generosity, and moderation protect social order and support the ruler/householder’s spiritual and civic responsibilities.

How does Sage Parāśara explain right conduct for a ruler or householder here?

He sets ethical criteria—avoid greed, infidelity, exploitation, and extremes of deprivation or indulgence—while insisting the man must embody the same virtues he seeks.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though not named in the line, the teaching reflects Vaishnava dharma: alignment with cosmic order ultimately rests on living in a way that honors Vishnu as the sustainer of righteousness and societal stability.