Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

ततः कल्यं समुत्थाय कुर्यान् मैत्रं नरेश्वर

Transliteration

tataḥ kalyaṃ samutthāya kuryān maitraṃ nareśvara

Translation

Then, O lord of men, rising at the auspicious hour of dawn, he should cultivate amity and harmonious friendship.

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Avyaya (Adverb/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तदस्)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रम (thereupon/then)

• कल्यम्: what is auspicious; a good act
• कल्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘कल्य’ = शुभम्/मङ्गलम् (auspicious act)

• समुत्थाय: having risen
• समुत्थाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + उत् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund) अव्यय; ‘having risen/standing up’

• कुर्यात्: should do; should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मैत्रम्: friendliness; amity
• मैत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘मैत्र’ = मैत्रीभावः (friendliness)

• नरेश्वर: O lord of men (king)
• नरेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘नराणाम् ईश्वरः’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya, describing ideal royal conduct)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Daily royal discipline: auspicious rising and cultivating maitri (amity) as a basis for dharmic governance

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: practical and prescriptive

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rising at dawn and cultivating maitri fosters social harmony and supports dharmic rule.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Begin the day with intentional goodwill—toward family, colleagues, and even adversaries—to reduce conflict and enable ethical leadership.

Vishishtadvaita: Maitrī is a devotional ethic in society—seeing beings as belonging to the Lord and thus worthy of benevolence.

Characters & Entities

• Kings
• Dharma (righteous order)

FAQs

What is the significance of rising at dawn (kalya) in the Vishnu Purana?

It signals disciplined, sattvic governance: the king begins the day at an auspicious time to align personal conduct with dharma and public welfare.

How does Sage Parāśara explain maitrī (amity) for a ruler?

As a deliberate practice: the king should actively foster friendly relations and goodwill, supporting stability and dharmic administration.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here, even though He is not named?

The verse reflects Vishnu Purana’s core idea that rightful sovereignty rests on dharma—an expression of the cosmic order upheld by Vishnu—so ethical kingship participates in that divine order.