Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

प्रस्निग्धामलकेशश् च सुगन्धश् चारुवेषधृक् सिताः सुमनसो हृद्या बिभृयाच् च नरः सदा

Transliteration

prasnigdhāmalakeśaś ca sugandhaś cāruveṣadhṛk sitāḥ sumanaso hṛdyā bibhṛyāc ca naraḥ sadā

Translation

A man should always keep his hair smooth and clean, remain pleasantly fragrant, and wear comely attire; and he should continually bear white, fair, heart-delighting flowers upon himself.

Word by Word

• प्रस्निग्ध: well-oiled/sleek
• प्रस्निग्ध: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from स्निह्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘केशः’ (in compound)

• अमल: clean/spotless
• अमल: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (used as qualifier in compound)

• केशः: one whose hair is sleek and clean
• केशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक) [प्र-स्निग्ध-अमल-केश (समास)]
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (विशेषण-विशेष्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सुगन्धः: fragrant
• सुगन्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुगन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (fragrant)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• आरु: beautiful
• आरु: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (as first member in compound)

• वेष: dress/attire
• वेष: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (as first member in compound)

• धृक्: wearer of fine attire
• धृक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृ (धातु) + क्विप् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय) [आरु-वेष-धृक् (समास)]
• Form: कृदन्त (धृ + क्विप् = धृक् ‘wearer’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (वेषं धारयति)

• सिताः: white (things)
• सिताः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (understood: मालाः/वस्त्राणि etc.)

• सुमनसः: flowers
• सुमनसः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (flowers)

• हृद्याः: pleasing/charming
• हृद्याः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् ‘सुमनसः’

• बिभृयात्: should wear/carry
• बिभृयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (Modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नित्यत्वे क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Codes of purity, decorum, and auspicious personal conduct

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Personal cleanliness, pleasant fragrance, decent attire, and pure white flowers are commended as outward signs supporting inner purity and dhārmic reverence.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Adopt simple cleanliness and aesthetic restraint as supports for steadiness in prayer, study, and respectful social conduct.

Vishishtadvaita: The body and its comportment are treated as instruments in service (śeṣatva) to the Lord, not as obstacles when ordered by dharma.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

FAQs

What is the significance of cleanliness and pleasant appearance in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames personal cleanliness, fragrance, and orderly dress as part of sadācāra—outer discipline that supports inner purity, reverence, and steadiness in dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain daily conduct (sadācāra) to Maitreya here?

Parāśara gives practical, repeatable observances—clean hair, fragrance, proper clothing, and auspicious flowers—showing that dharma is upheld through consistent daily habits, not only through lofty doctrine.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s dharma-instructions function as a devotional framework: orderly purity and auspiciousness prepare the practitioner for worship and remembrance of the Supreme Lord.