Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

श्रूयतां पृथिवीपाल सदाचारस्य लक्षणम् सदाचारवता पुंसा जितौ लोकाव् उभाव् अपि

Transliteration

śrūyatāṃ pṛthivīpāla sadācārasya lakṣaṇam sadācāravatā puṃsā jitau lokāv ubhāv api

Translation

Listen, O protector of the earth: I shall declare the defining marks of sadācāra—right conduct. One established in such noble conduct conquers both worlds, this life and the world beyond.

Word by Word

• श्रूयताम्: let (it) be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; ‘let it be heard’

• पृथिवीपाल: O king (protector of the earth)
• पृथिवीपाल: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवीपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—पृथिवी + पाल (तत्पुरुष)

• सदाचारस्य: of good conduct
• सदाचारस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदाचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—सत् + आचार (कर्मधारय)

• लक्षणम्: the characteristic/definition
• लक्षणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सदाचारवता: by one possessing good conduct
• सदाचारवता: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदाचारवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समास/प्रत्ययः—सदाचार + वत् (तत्पुरुष/तद्धित-वत् ‘possessing’)

• पुंसा: by a man
• पुंसा: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस्/पुम्स् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• जितौ: (are) conquered
• जितौ: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया-विशेष)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle, क्त), प्रथमा, द्विवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘conquered’ (agreeing with लोकौ)

• लोकौ: the two worlds
• लोकौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• उभाव्: both
• उभाव्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् लोकौ

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (instructing within the Purāṇic discourse; framed for a ruler/earth-protector)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Definition and marks (lakṣaṇa) of sadācāra for the gṛhastha; its fruit as victory in both worlds

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative and didactic

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sadācāra has definable marks, and one established in it attains success in both worldly life and the afterlife.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Define personal ethical non-negotiables (truth, non-injury, fidelity to duty) and evaluate goals—career, wealth, status—by whether they strengthen character and conscience.

Vishishtadvaita: Ethical order is not merely social; it is participation in Bhagavān’s niyati (divine governance), enabling prosperity without spiritual loss.

Characters & Entities

• Kings
• Dharma (Sadācāra)

FAQs

What is the significance of sadācāra in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents sadācāra (right conduct) as the decisive standard of dharma, powerful enough to secure success in both the worldly realm and the hereafter.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the purpose of right conduct?

He frames it pragmatically and spiritually: sadācāra is not merely social etiquette but a dharmic power by which a person “wins both worlds,” aligning life with moral order and future well-being.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though Vishnu is not named in this line, the teaching reflects Vaishnava Purāṇic theology: sustaining dharma is participation in the divine order ultimately grounded in Vishnu as the preserver of cosmic sovereignty.