Shloka 10

Nāndīmukha-śrāddha (Prosperity Rites), Preta-kriyā, Aśauca, Ekoddiṣṭa, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Framework

Devanagari script

प्रविष्टाश् च समं गोभिर् ग्रामं नक्षत्रदर्शने कटधर्मांस् ततः कुर्युर् भूमौ प्रस्तरशायिनः

Transliteration

praviṣṭāś ca samaṃ gobhir grāmaṃ nakṣatradarśane kaṭadharmāṃs tataḥ kuryur bhūmau prastaraśāyinaḥ

Translation

When the stars become visible, entering the village together with the cattle, they should perform the prescribed evening observances; then, lying on the earth upon a simple bed of stone, they should pass the night in disciplined restraint.

Word by Word

• प्रविष्टाः: having entered
• प्रविष्टाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्तरि कृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्ता-विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• समम्: together
• समम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (adverbial accusative: ‘together/equally’)

• गोभिः: with the cows
• गोभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (गो-शब्दः), तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण (with cows)

• ग्रामम्: the village
• ग्रामम्: Karma (Goal/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म/गन्तव्य (goal as object of motion)

• नक्षत्रदर्शने: at the sighting of the stars (nightfall)
• नक्षत्रदर्शने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र-दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक; नक्षत्र + दर्शन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (time/occasion)

• कटधर्मान्: austerities/observances of the ‘kaṭa’ type (rigorous vows)
• कटधर्मान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कट-धर्म (प्रातिपदिक; कट + धर्म)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्म (object of kuryuḥ: ‘perform’)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद् + तस्)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereafter)

• कुर्युः: should do/perform
• कुर्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• प्रस्तरशायिनः: lying on stone slabs
• प्रस्तरशायिनः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रस्तर-शायिन् (प्रातिपदिक; प्रस्तर + शायिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying the agents)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Post-cremation discipline: re-entry timing at star-rise, evening observances, and sleeping on the ground/stone in restraint

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After the funeral, one observes restraint—timed return, evening duties, and austere sleeping—so grief and impurity are held within dharmic discipline.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: After major loss, simplify life briefly: keep routine, reduce indulgences, and adopt a modest discipline that supports clarity and healing.

Vishishtadvaita: Austerity is not self-negation but regulated life within divine order; restraint steadies the mind for remembrance and eventual Godward orientation.

Characters & Entities

• Householders (Gṛhasthas)
• Cattle (Go)

FAQs

What is the significance of nakṣatra-darśana (seeing the stars) in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks the proper sacred time for evening observances, showing how dharma is synchronized with cosmic order and daily cycles.

How does Sage Parāśara explain disciplined living for householders here?

He frames household life as regulated by restraint—returning with the cattle at dusk, performing prescribed observances, and adopting simple sleeping habits to cultivate self-control.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the verse reflects Vaishnava dharma: living in harmony with cosmic order is a way of honoring the Supreme Reality who upholds ṛta and dharma.