Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

उदङ्मुखो दिवा मूत्रं विपरीतमुखो निशि कुर्वीतानापदि प्राज्ञो मूत्रोत्सर्गं च पार्थिव

Transliteration

udaṅmukho divā mūtraṃ viparītamukho niśi kurvītānāpadi prājño mūtrotsargaṃ ca pārthiva

Translation

O king, when there is no emergency, a wise man should urinate facing north in the daytime; but at night he should face the opposite direction, observing dharma’s discipline.

Word by Word

• उदङ्मुखः: facing north
• उदङ्मुखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदङ्-मुख (प्रातिपदिक; उदङ् + मुख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (उदङ् दिशि मुखं यस्य)

• दिवा: by day
• दिवा: Adverbial (काल/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम्

• मूत्रम्: urine
• मूत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विपरीतमुखः: facing the opposite direction
• विपरीतमुखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत-मुख (प्रातिपदिक; विपरीत + मुख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (विपरीतं मुखं यस्य)

• निशि: at night
• निशि: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुर्वीत: should do
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• अनापदि: when there is no emergency
• अनापदि: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्-आपद् (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + आपद्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः (आपदि अभावे)

• प्राज्ञः: a prudent man
• प्राज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मूत्रोत्सर्गम्: the discharge of urine
• मूत्रोत्सर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र-उत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक; मूत्र + उत्सर्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मूत्रस्य उत्सर्गः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• पार्थिव: O king
• पार्थिव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya; addressed here as 'O king')

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Directional discipline (dik-niyama) for urination by day and night

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even private bodily acts are to be aligned with prescribed order (niyama), expressing reverence for dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate mindful routines and hygiene disciplines; keep exceptions only for necessity (āpada).

Vishishtadvaita: Niyama expresses the Lord’s governance: disciplined action in daily life becomes a mode of living within His cosmic order rather than outside it.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• King (Pārthiva)

FAQs

What is the significance of directional rules for bodily functions in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames even private acts as part of dharma: disciplined conduct (achara) supports purity (shaucha) and harmony with cosmic order, especially when no emergency compels otherwise.

How does Sage Parāśara explain proper conduct (achara) in this chapter?

Parāśara gives practical, rule-based guidance for daily life—linking cleanliness, restraint, and situational exceptions (anāpadi) to living in alignment with dharma.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in this line, the Vishnu Purana presents dharma and ordered living as expressions of the Lord’s sovereignty—personal discipline becomes a way of honoring the sustaining principle embodied by Vishnu.