Shloka 26

Devanagari script

अपसव्यं न गच्छेच् च देवागारचतुष्पथान् माङ्गल्यपूज्यांश् च ततो विपरीतान् न दक्षिणम्

Transliteration

apasavyaṃ na gacchec ca devāgāracatuṣpathān māṅgalyapūjyāṃś ca tato viparītān na dakṣiṇam

Translation

One should not go around temples and crossroads in the inauspicious apasavya (counter‑clockwise) manner; nor should one so circle persons or things worthy of auspicious reverence; likewise, one should not proceed in the contrary way, keeping them to one’s right against the prescribed course of respect.

Word by Word

• अपसव्यम्: to the left; anticlockwise
• अपसव्यम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपसव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘अपसव्यं’ = वामावर्तेन/वामतः (keeping to the left/anticlockwise)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (particle of negation)

• गच्छेत्: should go
• गच्छेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• देवागारचतुष्पथान्: temple-crossroads
• देवागारचतुष्पथान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवागार (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुष्पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: देवागारस्य चतुष्पथाः (crossroads of/near temples)

• माङ्गल्यपूज्यान्: auspicious/venerable (objects/persons)
• माङ्गल्यपूज्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माङ्गल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पूज्य (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः: माङ्गल्याश्च ते पूज्याश्च (auspicious and venerable persons/things)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ततः: thereafter; from that
• ततः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘ततः’ = तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम् (thereafter/from that)

• विपरीतान्: opposite; contrary (directions/ways)
• विपरीतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying the implied ‘मार्गान्/दिशः’)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• दक्षिणम्: to the right; clockwise
• दक्षिणम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative): ‘दक्षिणम्’ = दक्षिणतः/प्रदक्षिणम् (to the right/clockwise)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Rules of sadācāra (proper conduct) and purity during the manvantara

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Auspicious orientation and proper circumambulation around sacred persons/places is a bodily discipline that expresses dharma through reverence.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Observe respectful movement in temples and ritual spaces (keep the deity/teacher to the right in pradakṣiṇā) and avoid casual, disruptive behavior in sacred precincts.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is enacted as service to Bhagavān’s abodes and devotees, treating sacred space as belonging to the Lord.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Deities (in temples)
• Auspicious objects/persons (māṅgalya, pūjya)

FAQs

What is the significance of avoiding apasavya (counter-clockwise) movement in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats bodily orientation as an expression of dharma: moving in the prescribed reverential manner around temples and auspicious objects preserves auspiciousness and avoids actions considered ritually inverting sacred order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain proper conduct around temples and sacred places?

Parāśara frames it as ācāra: one should not circle or pass sacred sites like temples and crossroads in an inauspicious way, and should avoid contrarian movement that places what is worship-worthy on the wrong side.

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

Though the verse is practical, its intent is devotional: correct ācāra around the deity’s abode (devāgāra) honors the Supreme Lord’s presence in the world and aligns everyday action with dharma upheld by Vishnu.