Shloka 82
गृहस्थस्य सदाचारः: शौच, तर্পण, वैश्वदेव, अतिथिधर्म, भोजन-विधि, संध्योपासन, ऋतु-धर्मः
नासन्दीसंस्थिते पात्रे नादेशे च नरेश्वर नाकाले नातिसंकीर्णे दत्त्वाग्रं च नरो ऽग्नये
nāsandīsaṃsthite pātre nādeśe ca nareśvara nākāle nātisaṃkīrṇe dattvāgraṃ ca naro 'gnaye
O lord of men, one should not cast the foremost portion into the sacred fire when the receiving vessel is set upon a seat, nor in an improper place, nor at an improper time, nor amid excessive crowding; the first offering must be given in due order and reverence, in harmony with dharma.
Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya; verse addresses a kingly figure as 'nareśvara' in the teaching style)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Rules of proper offering and food discipline (ācāra) within dharma, especially first oblation to Agni
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Dharma in yajña begins with correct deśa-kāla-pātra and respectful procedure, especially for the first oblation to Agni.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Maintain intentionality and appropriate context in worship/ritual and daily duties rather than acting hurriedly or performatively.
Vishishtadvaita: Ritual order is treated as service to the Lord approached through Agni as a dharmic conduit, aligning embodied action with divine ordinance.
FAQs
This verse teaches that offerings—especially the first portion—must be made only under proper conditions (right place, right time, non-chaotic setting), because ritual discipline is an expression of dharma and preserves sacred order.
Parāśara frames discipline as practical dharma: even a correct act becomes flawed if done in an improper setting—such as in the wrong place, at the wrong time, or amid disorder—so the offering must be regulated by propriety.
Although Agni is named directly, the underlying point is that dharma reflects the Supreme order upheld by Vishnu; correct ritual conduct aligns human action with that higher cosmic sovereignty.