Shloka 83

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

Devanagari script

मन्त्राभिमन्त्रितं शस्तं न च पर्युषितं नृप अन्यत्र फलमांसेभ्यः शुष्कशाकादिकांस् तथा

Transliteration

mantrābhimantritaṃ śastaṃ na ca paryuṣitaṃ nṛpa anyatra phalamāṃsebhyaḥ śuṣkaśākādikāṃs tathā

Translation

O King, what has been duly consecrated by mantra is fit to be used, and it should not be stale or kept overnight—except in the case of fruits and meats, and likewise in the case of dried vegetables and similar provisions.

Word by Word

• mantra-abhimantritam: consecrated with mantras
• mantra-abhimantritam: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + abhimantrita (कृदन्त; √mantr (मन्त्र्) with abhi-, past participle)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण; mantra-abhimantrita = मन्त्रेण अभिमन्त्रितम् (accusative singular neuter; 'consecrated by mantra')

• śastam: proper / approved
• śastam: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śasta (कृदन्त; √śās (शास्) / √śaṃs (शंस्) 'praised/approved', past participle used adjectivally)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• paryuṣitam: stale / kept overnight
• paryuṣitam: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paryuṣita (कृदन्त; √vas (वस्) with pari- + ud?; lexical 'kept overnight/stale', past participle)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण

• nṛpa: O king
• nṛpa: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• anyatra: except / otherwise than
• anyatra: Apadana (Exception/अपादान-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb); 'elsewhere/except'

• phala-māṃsebhyaḥ: from fruits and meats
• phala-māṃsebhyaḥ: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास; 'from fruits and meats'

• śuṣka-śāka-ādikān: dry vegetables and the like
• śuṣka-śāka-ādikān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuṣka (प्रातिपदिक) + śāka (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; śuṣka-śāka-ādika = शुष्कशाकादयः (accusative plural; 'dry vegetables etc.')

• tathā: likewise / also
• tathā: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb); 'so/likewise/also'

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction, addressing a king within the discourse framework)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Dietary/ritual fitness of food—mantra-consecrated items, freshness, and exceptions

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-sanctified food is fit, but one should avoid stale offerings, allowing pragmatic exceptions for certain durable foods.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat nourishment as sacred: prefer fresh, consciously prepared food, and apply rules with intelligent discretion rather than rigidity.

Vishishtadvaita: Sanctification by mantra implies food as offered/related to the Lord; purity of intake supports sattva conducive to devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Kings

FAQs

What is the significance of avoiding paryuṣita (stale) offerings in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames freshness as a mark of ritual integrity: offerings should be timely and pure, with limited practical exceptions explicitly allowed.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of mantra in making something fit for ritual use?

He states that mantra-consecration renders an item “śasta” (ritually proper), but it does not override the general rule that offerings should not be stale.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even in procedural dharma, the Purana implies that correct order and purity in offerings uphold cosmic order ultimately grounded in Vishnu’s sovereignty.