Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

शीर्षण्यानि ततः खानि मूर्धानं च नृपालभेत् बाहू नाभिं च तोयेन हृदयं चापि संस्पृशेत्

Transliteration

śīrṣaṇyāni tataḥ khāni mūrdhānaṃ ca nṛpālabhet bāhū nābhiṃ ca toyena hṛdayaṃ cāpi saṃspṛśet

Translation

Thereafter, with water one should touch the parts of the head, then the bodily apertures and the crown of the head; with water one should also touch the arms, the navel, and likewise the heart—thus establishing purification in due order.

Word by Word

• शीर्षण्यानि: (the parts) belonging to the head; head-regions
• शीर्षण्यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीर्षण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Modifier (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थ (adverb: then/thereafter)

• खानि: openings (orifices)
• खानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (सामान्यतः ‘छिद्र/विवर’ अर्थे)

• मूर्धानम्: the head/crown
• मूर्धानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन

• आलभेत्: should touch/handle
• आलभेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु) [आ-उपसर्ग]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• बाहू: the two arms
• बाहू: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• नाभिम्: the navel
• नाभिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• तोयेन: with water
• तोयेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हृदयम्: the heart/chest
• हृदयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Modifier (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (particle: also/even)

• संस्पृशेत्: should touch
• संस्पृशेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्पृश् (धातु) [सम्-उपसर्ग]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya; verse includes an honorific vocative nṛpāla)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Mapping purification onto the body: touching head, apertures, crown, arms, navel, and heart with water

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification culminates in consecrating the whole embodied person—senses, vital centers, and heart—so inner devotion matches outer cleanliness.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Before worship, pause to recollect and ‘offer’ the senses and heart through a brief cleansing ritual or mindful touch, aligning attention with intention.

Vishishtadvaita: Antaryāmin orientation: touching the heart underscores the Lord’s indwelling presence, integrating body-sense life into God-centered purity.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Sage Parasara
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of ritual touching with water in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents a dharmic sequence of purification where water is used to sanctify key bodily loci—signifying external cleanliness aligned with inner readiness for sacred acts.

How does Sage Parāśara explain bodily purity as part of dharma?

In this instructional context, Parāśara treats purification as a regulated practice: ordered gestures with water that discipline the body and mind before prayer, recitation, or worship.

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

Even when the verse is procedural, its purpose is devotional and cosmic: dharma and purity are portrayed as supports for approaching Vishnu—the supreme sustaining reality—through right practice.