Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

नदीनदतडागेषु देवखातजलेषु च नित्यक्रियार्थं स्नायीत गिरिप्रस्रवणेषु च

Transliteration

nadīnadataḍāgeṣu devakhātajaleṣu ca nityakriyārthaṃ snāyīta giriprasravaṇeṣu ca

Translation

For the sake of one’s daily sacred observances, one should bathe in rivers, streams, and ponds; in waters drawn from holy wells (devakhāta); and also in the pure runnels that descend from mountains.

Word by Word

• नदी: river
• नदी: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• नद: stream
• नद: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• तडागेषु: in ponds/tanks
• तडागेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• देवखातजलेषु: in waters of wells/ponds dug (as sacred works)
• देवखातजलेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + खात (कृदन्त; खन् धातु, क्त) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषसमासः (देवैः खातं जलम् / देवखातं जलम्)

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

• नित्यक्रियार्थम्: for daily rites
• नित्यक्रियार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नित्यक्रियायाः अर्थम्)

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

• गिरिप्रस्रवणेषु: in mountain springs
• गिरिप्रस्रवणेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रस्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गिरेः प्रस्रवणानि)

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

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Rules for daily bathing (snāna) and suitable water sources for nitya-kriyā

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: practical

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Snāna in clean natural waters is prescribed to prepare body and mind for daily rites and dharmic action.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Maintain bodily cleanliness and a simple morning bathing/meditation routine to stabilize attention before work and worship.

Vishishtadvaita: Purificatory acts are preparatory limbs (aṅgas) that dispose the embodied self toward loving service of the Lord within the world.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of ritual bathing (snāna) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames bathing as a practical prerequisite for nitya-kriyā—daily religious duties—using naturally pure and ritually sanctioned water sources to support bodily cleanliness and mental readiness for dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain daily religious discipline in this section?

Parāśara gives concrete dharma-guidelines rather than abstract theory: he lists acceptable places and kinds of water for purification, showing that spiritual life is sustained through regular, orderly practice.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the line, the discipline described serves Vishnu-centered dharma: purification and orderly conduct uphold the cosmic order that Vishnu, as Supreme Sovereign, maintains.