Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

होमदेवार्चनाद्यासु क्रियास्व् आचमने तथा नैकवस्त्रः प्रवर्तेत द्विजवाचनके जपे

Transliteration

homadevārcanādyāsu kriyāsv ācamane tathā naikavastraḥ pravarteta dvijavācanake jape

Translation

During rites such as fire-offerings and the worship of the gods—and also while performing ācamana (ritual sipping for purification)—one should not proceed wearing only a single garment, especially when engaged in Vedic recitation or in mantra-japa prescribed for the twice-born. Such disciplines preserve outward purity as a support for inward steadiness in dharma.

Word by Word

• होमदेवार्चनाद्यासु: in rites such as homa and worship of the gods, etc.
• होमदेवार्चनाद्यासु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम-देव-अर्चन-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः/समाहारः (‘होमः, देवार्चनम्, आदि’ इत्यादिषु)

• क्रियासु: in (ritual) actions
• क्रियासु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आचमने: in ācamana (ritual sipping)
• आचमने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• एकवस्त्रः: wearing only one garment
• एकवस्त्रः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक-वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (एक + वस्त्र); विशेषणम् (अध्याहृतः ‘बुधः/द्विजः’)

• प्रवर्तेत: should proceed/engage
• प्रवर्तेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• द्विजवाचनके: in the (mantra) recitation prescribed for a twice-born
• द्विजवाचनके: Adhikarana (Qualifier of locus/विशेषण-अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विज-वाचनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘द्विजस्य वाचनकम्’ = that which is to be recited by a twice-born); विशेषणम् (जपे)

• जपे: in japa (muttering/recitation)
• जपे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Proper observances for homa, devārcana, ācāmana, Vedic recitation, and japa

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: procedural and tradition-rooted

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual acts—homa, arcana, ācāmana, Vedic recitation, and japa—require proper dress and discipline to maintain sanctity and focused devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When performing prayer/chanting, create a respectful setting (cleanliness, appropriate clothing, attention) to support concentration and sincerity.

Vishishtadvaita: Pāñcarātra-like emphasis: external ritual order (bahir-ācāra) is an aṅga of devotion to Nārāyaṇa, integrating body, speech, and mind in service (śeṣatva).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Dwijas (twice-born)
• Devas (gods)

FAQs

What is the significance of dress and external purity in the Vishnu Purana’s dharma teachings?

This verse treats proper attire as part of śauca: an outward discipline that safeguards the sanctity of homa, worship, ācamana, and mantra practice.

How does Sage Parāśara explain correct conduct for japa and Vedic recitation?

He frames recitation and japa as acts requiring regulated purity—here, specifically advising that one should not undertake them in an improper single-garment state.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the dharma of worship and mantra is presented as a means of aligning life with sacred order—supporting devotion and reverence toward the Supreme (Vishnu) upheld throughout the Purana.