Shloka 18

सदाचार-नियमाः: शील, संयम, संग-निषेध, शुचिता, वाणी-नीति, परोपकारः

Devanagari script

दंष्ट्रिणः शृङ्गिणश् चैव प्राज्ञो दूरेण वर्जयेत् अवश्यायं च राजेन्द्र पुरो वातातपौ तथा

Transliteration

daṃṣṭriṇaḥ śṛṅgiṇaś caiva prājño dūreṇa varjayet avaśyāyaṃ ca rājendra puro vātātapau tathā

Translation

A wise man should keep well away from creatures that bite with fangs and those that strike with horns. And you too, O best of kings, should avoid the chilling dew, and likewise the direct onrush of wind and the harshness of the sun—guarding the body as an instrument of dharma, under the sovereign order upheld by the Supreme Vishnu.

Word by Word

• दंष्ट्रिणः: those with fangs
• दंष्ट्रिणः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंष्ट्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘दंष्ट्रा अस्य सन्ति’ (possessor)

• शृङ्गिणः: those with horns
• शृङ्गिणः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• प्राज्ञः: the prudent man
• प्राज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दूरेण: from a distance
• दूरेण: Vishesana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणवत् (instrumental used adverbially: ‘from afar’)

• वर्जयेत्: should avoid
• वर्जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अवश्यायम्: dew; cold mist
• अवश्यायम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवश्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्-इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘राज्ञाम् इन्द्रः’)

• पुरः: in front; beforehand
• पुरः: Vishesana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: दिक्/स्थानवाचक-अव्यय (adverb ‘in front/before’)

• वातातपौ: wind and sun-heat
• वातातपौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात-आतप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (वात + आतप)

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in discourse to Maitreya; the verse itself addresses a king as an exemplar of disciplined rule)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Practical cautions for preserving health in dharmic life

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: protective and pragmatic

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avoid physical dangers and harmful exposure to dew, wind, and sun; bodily well-being safeguards one’s capacity to uphold dharma under Viṣṇu’s order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice sensible risk-avoidance and health care (climate exposure, rest, prevention) so spiritual practice and duties remain steady.

Vishishtadvaita: The world-order (niyati/dharma) is upheld by Nārāyaṇa, and embodied life is a meaningful arena for service rather than an illusion to neglect.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kings

FAQs

What is the significance of bodily discipline in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats the body as a necessary support for dharma: avoiding danger (fanged/horned animals) and harmful exposure (dew, wind, sun) preserves one’s capacity to perform duty and righteous rule.

How does Sage Parāśara explain prudent conduct in daily life?

By prescribing practical avoidances—staying away from hazards and extremes—Parāśara frames wisdom as foresight and restraint, qualities expected especially of those who uphold social order.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even practical nīti is implicitly grounded in Vishnu’s sustaining order: disciplined living supports dharma, and dharma is portrayed throughout the Purana as upheld by the Supreme Reality, Vishnu.