Shloka 77
कृते जपे हुते वह्नौ शुद्धवस्त्रधरो नृप दत्त्वातिथिभ्यो विप्रेभ्यो गुरुभ्यः संश्रिताय च पुण्यगन्धधरः शस्तमाल्यधारी नरेश्वर
kṛte jape hute vahnau śuddhavastradharo nṛpa dattvātithibhyo viprebhyo gurubhyaḥ saṃśritāya ca puṇyagandhadharaḥ śastamālyadhārī nareśvara
O king, when sacred recitation is finished and oblations have been offered into the consecrated fire, one should wear clean garments. Having given what is due to guests, to Brahmins, to teachers, and to those who have sought one’s shelter, one should then bear auspicious fragrance and a fitting garland—adorning oneself in a manner approved by dharma, O lord of men.
Sage Parāśara (in dialogue with Maitreya; addressed here as 'O king' as a conventional vocative within dharma-instruction style)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Duties and daily conduct (ācāra) appropriate to dharma, especially post-ritual purity and household obligations
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: After completing japa and fire-offerings, one should maintain ritual purity and fulfill obligations to guests, brahmins, teachers, and dependents before personal adornment.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Treat daily spiritual practice as incomplete unless followed by generosity, cleanliness, and respectful social duties.
Vishishtadvaita: Dharma as Bhagavad-ājñā: embodied, social action becomes service within Vishnu’s ordained order.
FAQs
This verse frames giving and hospitality as the natural completion of worship: ritual purity is not merely personal, but culminates in sustaining the social and spiritual order through honoring guests, supporting Brahmins, and revering teachers.
He presents a sequence: complete the sacred acts, adopt outward purity (clean garments), fulfill obligations to others through gifts and care for dependents, and then take on auspicious adornment—showing that inner devotion should flow into ethical action.
Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the teaching reflects Vaishnava dharma: worship of the Supreme is validated by conduct that protects and nourishes beings, aligning personal practice with the sustaining order attributed to Vishnu as preserver.