Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

सोमसंस्था हविःसंस्थाः पाकसंस्थाश् च संस्थिताः धने यतो मनुष्याणां यतेतातो धनार्जने

Transliteration

somasaṃsthā haviḥsaṃsthāḥ pākasaṃsthāś ca saṃsthitāḥ dhane yato manuṣyāṇāṃ yatetāto dhanārjane

Translation

The sacrificial institutions are established in their proper forms—those of the Soma rites, those performed with oblations (havis), and those of cooked offerings (pāka). Since for human beings these rest upon wealth as their support, one should strive to acquire wealth.

Word by Word

• सोमसंस्थाः: Soma-sacrifice arrangements/rites
• सोमसंस्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सोमस्य संस्थाः)

• हविःसंस्थाः: havis-offering rites/arrangements
• हविःसंस्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस् (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हविषः संस्थाः)

• पाकसंस्थाः: cooking/household rites
• पाकसंस्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाक (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पाकस्य संस्थाः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• संस्थिताः: are established/arranged
• संस्थिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• धने: in/with wealth
• धने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• यतः: since/because
• यतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय; यद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: हेतुवाचक अव्यय (causal/relative adverb: "since/from which")

• मनुष्याणाम्: of men/humans
• मनुष्याणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• यतेत: should strive
• यतेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यत् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (Logical connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: निगमन/हेतुफलवाचक अव्यय (therefore)

• धनार्जने: in earning wealth
• धनार्जने: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धनस्य अर्जने)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How yajña systems depend on material support and why artha is pursued within dharma

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: explanatory

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual obligations (Soma, haviṣ, pāka) require resources; therefore artha is to be sought as a dharmic means for sustaining sacred duty.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat income as stewardship: budget for worship, charity, and family duties before personal luxury.

Vishishtadvaita: Material means are not rejected but integrated as instruments in divine service (śeṣatva), harmonizing artha with bhakti.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

FAQs

What is the significance of Soma, Havis, and Pāka rites in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse groups sacrificial practice into established categories—Soma-rites, oblation-rites, and cooked-offering rites—presenting yajña as an organized pillar of dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of wealth (artha) in religious life?

He states that these rites depend upon wealth as their practical basis; hence earning wealth becomes a legitimate pursuit when it supports dharma and prescribed duties.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s frame treats dharma (including yajña and right artha) as part of the cosmic order sustained under Vishnu’s sovereignty.