Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

योग्याः सर्वक्रियाणां तु समानसलिलास् तथा अनुलेपनपुष्पादिभोगाद् अन्यत्र पार्थिव

Transliteration

yogyāḥ sarvakriyāṇāṃ tu samānasalilās tathā anulepanapuṣpādibhogād anyatra pārthiva

Translation

They are fit for the performance of all rites, O king, and their water is regarded as equivalent; yet in enjoyments such as unguents and perfumes, flowers, and the like, a distinction remains.

Word by Word

• योग्याः: fit/eligible
• योग्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता) (predicative: “are fit”)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सर्वक्रियाणाम्: of all rites
• सर्वक्रियाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (“all” + “rites/actions”)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विरोध/विशेष-बोधक (particle: “but/indeed”)

• समानसलिलाः: having the same water (for rites)
• समानसलिलाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण) of योग्याः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समान + सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (“equal/same” + “water”: having the same water/ablutions)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय/प्रकार-बोधक

• अनुलेपनपुष्पादिभोगात्: from enjoyment of anointing, flowers, etc. (i.e., except these)
• अनुलेपनपुष्पादिभोगात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुलेपन + पुष्प + आदि + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; समासः (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-प्रायः) “enjoyment of anointing, flowers, etc.”; अपादान-भावः (ablative: “except from/other than”)

• अन्यत्र: except/otherwise
• अन्यत्र: Sambandha (Exception marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अपवाद/विभाग-बोधक (adverb: “elsewhere/except”)

• पार्थिव: O king
• पार्थिव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; addressing a king within the cited instruction)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Eligibility and purity distinctions after mourning: general fitness for rites, equivalence of water, and continued limits regarding enjoyments (anulepana, flowers, perfumes)

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: clarifying

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even when one becomes eligible for ritual actions and shares equal water-purity, a distinction remains regarding pleasures (perfumes, flowers, unguents), preserving restraint during the observance.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When returning to normal routines after loss, keep voluntary simplicity for a time—limit sensory indulgence to cultivate steadiness and clarity.

Vishishtadvaita: Regulated enjoyment (bhoga-niyama) aligns the senses with dharma under the Lord’s sovereignty, integrating worldly life with spiritual discipline rather than rejecting embodiment.

Characters & Entities

• Kings

FAQs

What is the significance of treating water as equal (samāna-salila) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse indicates a ritual equivalence in sacred acts—water used for prescribed rites is to be regarded as uniformly valid—while allowing separate rules for non-ritual enjoyments.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the difference between ritual duty and enjoyment here?

He draws a boundary: for obligatory rites (kriyā), qualification and ritual parity are affirmed; but for pleasures and offerings like perfumes and flowers, different restrictions or gradations may apply.

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

By regulating rite and conduct, the text frames dharma as participation in Vishnu’s sustaining order—ritual acts align beings with the Supreme Preserver, while pleasures are subordinated to disciplined, dharmic limits.