Shloka 14
सदाचार-नियमाः: शील, संयम, संग-निषेध, शुचिता, वाणी-नीति, परोपकारः
पूज्यदेवद्विजज्योतिश्छायां नातिक्रमेद् बुधः नैकः शून्याटवीं गच्छेन् न च शून्यगृहे वसेत्
pūjyadevadvijajyotiśchāyāṃ nātikramed budhaḥ naikaḥ śūnyāṭavīṃ gacchen na ca śūnyagṛhe vaset
A wise person should not step across the shadow of those worthy of reverence—of the gods, the twice-born, and sacred lights. Nor should one travel alone into a desolate forest, and one should not dwell in an empty, uninhabited house.
Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Marks of reverence (not crossing shadows of the venerable) and prudential conduct (avoiding solitary wilderness/empty houses)
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Honor the worthy (deva, dvija, sacred lights) through bodily etiquette, and protect dharma by avoiding reckless solitude in dangerous places.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Practice embodied respect for teachers/elders and sacred spaces; adopt sensible safety habits—avoid isolated risky travel and insecure dwellings.
Vishishtadvaita: Dāsya-bhāva (servant-attitude) is expressed through reverent bodily conduct, supporting a life oriented to the Lord through His representatives and sacred symbols.
Bhakti Type: Dasya
FAQs
It encodes reverence and humility as dharma: even indirect contact (a shadow) is treated as sacred, reinforcing social and ritual order aligned with cosmic harmony.
Through practical restraints—avoid actions that invite inauspiciousness or danger (like solitary travel in deserted places or living in empty houses) while maintaining reverence toward sacred persons and symbols.
Though Vishnu is not named here, the verse reflects dharma as part of Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty: right conduct preserves harmony in the world that Vishnu upholds.