Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

वल्मीकमूषिकोत्खातां मृदं नान्तर्जलां तथा शौचावशिष्टां गेहाच् च नादद्याल् लेपसंभवाम्

Transliteration

valmīkamūṣikotkhātāṃ mṛdaṃ nāntarjalāṃ tathā śaucāvaśiṣṭāṃ gehāc ca nādadyāl lepasaṃbhavām

Translation

One should not take earth for smearing or plastering—whether dug from an anthill or by a rat, whether soaked with water from within, whether left over from acts of cleansing, nor any such earth from inside the house.

Word by Word

• वल्मीक-मूषिक-उत्खाताम्: (earth) dug out by an anthill-mouse
• वल्मीक-मूषिक-उत्खाताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वल्मीक (प्रातिपदिक) + मूषिक (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्खात (कृदन्त; √खन् धातु, उत्-उपसर्ग)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (भूतकर्मणि/कृत) — “उत्खाता” = dug out

• मृदम्: earth, clay
• मृदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Modifier (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (particle of negation)

• अन्तर्जलाम्: (earth) with water inside, wet
• अन्तर्जलाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर् (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण — “अन्तर्जला” = having water within / wet inside

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: Modifier (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: likewise/also)

• शौच-अवशिष्टाम्: (earth) left over from cleansing
• शौच-अवशिष्टाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक) + अवशिष्ट (कृदन्त; √शिष्/√शेष् धातु, अव-उपसर्ग)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण — “अवशिष्टा” = remaining

• गेहात्: from a house
• गेहात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Modifier (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• आदद्यात्: should take/accept
• आदद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) [आ-उपसर्ग; आदा]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लेप-सम्भवाम्: (earth) arising from plastering/smearing
• लेप-सम्भवाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लेप (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्तभाव)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण — “सम्भवा” = arising/produced

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Rules of śauca (ritual purity), specifically what kinds of earth (mṛd) are permissible for cleansing and plastering

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purity is safeguarded by avoiding earth that is contaminated, waterlogged, or associated with impure domestic residue.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Choose clean materials and hygienic sources for religious practice and daily cleanliness; avoid shortcuts that compromise integrity.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma of the body supports devotion: maintaining śarīra-śuddhi honors the body as a mode (śarīra) of the Lord’s order.

Characters & Entities

• Parashara
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of purity (śauca) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats purity as a practical discipline: even materials used for cleansing or ritual plastering must be uncontaminated, reinforcing ordered living as a support to dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain proper conduct regarding household materials?

Parāśara gives concrete prohibitions—do not use clay from impure or suspect sources (anthills/rat-dug, waterlogged, leftover from cleaning, or taken from inside the home) when preparing plaster or smearing.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though not named in the verse, the teaching frames dharmic cleanliness as part of the cosmic order sustained by Vishnu—outer purity mirroring inner discipline oriented toward the Supreme.