Shloka 36

Devanagari script

अकालगर्जितादौ तु पर्वस्व् आशौचकादिषु अनध्यायं बुधः कुर्याद् उपरागादिके तथा

Transliteration

akālagarjitādau tu parvasv āśaucakādiṣu anadhyāyaṃ budhaḥ kuryād uparāgādike tathā

Translation

At untimely thunder and the like, on sacred festival days, in states of impurity such as mourning, and likewise during eclipses and similar portents—the wise should observe anadhyāya, suspending Vedic study and recitation.

Word by Word

• अकालगर्जितादौ: in (cases) such as untimely thunder etc.
• अकालगर्जितादौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकाल-गर्जित-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; components: अकाल + गर्जित + आदि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• पर्वसु: on festival/holy days
• पर्वसु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण

• आशौचकादिषु: in impurity (periods) etc.
• आशौचकादिषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशौचक-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; components: आशौचक + आदि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण

• अनध्यायम्: cessation of study (non-recitation)
• अनध्यायम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• बुधः: a wise man
• बुधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता

• कुर्यात्: should do/observe
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• उपरागादिके: in (events) like eclipses etc.
• उपरागादिके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपराग-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; components: उपराग + आदि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: ācāra-dharma: occasions requiring anadhyāya (suspension of Vedic study) due to impurity, parvan-days, eclipses, and portents

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vedic recitation must be synchronized with purity and proper time; during inauspicious or impurity-marked occasions the wise observe anadhyāya.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Pause sacred study/chanting when mind, body, or environment is disturbed; resume when conditions support clarity and reverence.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is service to Bhagavān’s order (niyati); honoring time and purity aligns the practitioner with the Lord’s cosmic governance.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of anadhyāya in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames anadhyāya as a dharmic safeguard: Vedic study is paused during impure conditions, inauspicious disturbances, and major calendrical junctions so that sacred recitation remains in harmony with purity and the proper order of time.

How does Sage Parāśara explain when Vedic study should be suspended?

He lists practical triggers—untimely thunder, parva/festival days, āśauca and related impurities, and eclipses—indicating that learned practitioners should recognize such times and formally observe a pause in study and chanting.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though Vishnu is not named here, the discipline described reflects the Purana’s vision of a cosmos governed by divine order—where dharma, time, and purity are coordinated under the sovereignty of the Supreme Reality that the text identifies with Vishnu.