Shloka 26
गृहस्थस्य सदाचारः: शौच, तर্পण, वैश्वदेव, अतिथिधर्म, भोजन-विधि, संध्योपासन, ऋतु-धर्मः
कूपेषूद्धृततोयेन स्नानं कुर्वीत वा भुवि स्नायीतोद्धृततोयेन अथवा भुव्य् असंभवे
kūpeṣūddhṛtatoyena snānaṃ kurvīta vā bhuvi snāyītoddhṛtatoyena athavā bhuvy asaṃbhave
With water drawn up from wells, one may perform the bath upon the ground; or, when bathing upon the earth is not possible, one should bathe using that very water which has been drawn forth.
Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Permissible alternatives for bathing when direct immersion is not possible
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: compassionate
Concept: When direct bathing is impracticable, purification may be performed with well-drawn water, preserving the intent of nitya-kriyā.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Keep the principle over the form: maintain cleanliness and prayer even when travel/health limits ideal ritual conditions.
Vishishtadvaita: The Lord accepts sincere observance according to capacity; embodied limitations are accommodated without abandoning devotion and duty.
Vishnu Form: Hari
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse treats snāna as a dharmic purifier and gives practical allowances—bathing may be done with well-water drawn up, preserving ritual intent even when ideal conditions are unavailable.
He provides an alternative procedure: if bathing upon the ground is not possible, one may still fulfill the observance by bathing with water that has been drawn and brought, emphasizing dharma’s continuity through permitted substitutions.
Though Vishnu is not named here, the injunction supports the Vishnu Purana’s broader vision of cosmic order (ṛta/dharma): disciplined purity and daily rites sustain a life aligned with the Supreme Reality that Vishnu embodies.