Shloka 81

Devanagari script

प्रशस्तशुद्धपात्रेषु भुञ्जीताकुपितो नृप

Transliteration

praśastaśuddhapātreṣu bhuñjītākupito nṛpa

Translation

O king, let him take his meal only from vessels that are approved and pure, and let him eat with an untroubled mind—free from anger.

Word by Word

• प्रशस्तशुद्धपात्रेषु: in clean and proper vessels
• प्रशस्तशुद्धपात्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रशस्त (शंस्-धातु, क्त; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; अधिकरण; समासः = प्रशस्तानि शुद्धानि पात्राणि (कर्मधारय-समुच्चय) तेषु

• भुञ्जीत: should eat
• भुञ्जीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष? (आज्ञार्थे मध्यमपुरुष-प्रयोगः अपेक्षितः; पाठे ‘भुञ्जीत’ = 3rd sg optative), एकवचन

• अकुपितः: not angry/calm
• अकुपितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + कुपित (कुप्-धातु, क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya; the verse directly addresses a king as an exemplar of conduct)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Final rule of bhojana-ācāra: purity of vessels and freedom from anger while eating

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One should eat only from approved, clean vessels and with a mind free from anger, preserving purity of both outer means and inner state.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Reduce anger and agitation around meals; create a clean, quiet eating space to support mental clarity and health.

Vishishtadvaita: Inner disposition (bhāva) matters alongside outer ritual: embodied life is sanctified when mind and action align with the Lord’s order.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• King

FAQs

What is the significance of purity and approved vessels in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats external cleanliness (pure, proper vessels) as a support for dharmic living, aligning daily habits with ritual order and social harmony.

How does Sage Parāśara explain self-control in daily life?

By linking eating with mental discipline: one should eat only in a pure setting and specifically without anger, showing that inner restraint is part of dharma.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even practical rules of conduct are framed as participation in cosmic order upheld by Vishnu—personal purity and calmness become small acts that sustain dharma under the Supreme Reality.