Shloka 8

श्राद्ध-योग्य द्रव्य, निषेध, तथा गयाश्राद्ध-माहात्म्य (Śrāddha Materials, Prohibitions, and the Glory of Gayā)

Devanagari script

अलाबुं गृञ्जनं चैव पलाण्डुं पिण्डमूलकम् गन्धारकं करम्भाणि लवणान्य् औषराणि च

Transliteration

alābuṃ gṛñjanaṃ caiva palāṇḍuṃ piṇḍamūlakam gandhārakaṃ karambhāṇi lavaṇāny auṣarāṇi ca

Translation

Bottle-gourd, certain pungent roots and herbs, onion, bulbous tubers, gandhāraka, thickened gruels, and salts derived from alkaline earth—these too are to be regarded as items to be avoided in the discipline of regulated living.

Word by Word

• अलाबुम्: bottle-gourd
• अलाबुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलाबु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• गृञ्जनम्: carrot (gṛñjana)
• गृञ्जनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• पलाण्डुम्: onion
• पलाण्डुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलाण्डु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पिण्डमूलकम्: bulb-root/knolled radish (piṇḍamūlaka)
• पिण्डमूलकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड + मूलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पिण्डस्य मूलकम्)

• गन्धारकम्: a pungent condiment (gandhāraka)
• गन्धारकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• करम्भाणि: gruels/porridge preparations (karambha)
• करम्भाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• लवणानि: salts
• लवणानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• औषराणि: saline/alkaline (from saltpans)
• औषराणि: Karma (Object-Qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: औषर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (लवणानि इति)

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

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Rules of śrāddha and regulated living (niyama) for maintaining purity

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purity and steadiness in dharma are supported by disciplined restraint in what is accepted as food, especially in ritual contexts.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Adopt mindful dietary and lifestyle restraints that reduce agitation and support clarity during worship and ancestral rites.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is framed as service within the Lord’s sovereignty: regulated conduct sustains the devotee’s fitness for Bhagavat-sambandha (relation to Vishnu).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of dietary restraint in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse lists specific foods to avoid, presenting diet as a practical tool for preserving ritual purity and mental steadiness within dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain disciplined living to Maitreya here?

By enumerating concrete items—vegetables, preparations, and mineral salts—Parāśara frames dharma as lived regulation, not only abstract doctrine.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when discussing food rules, the text situates dharma as part of the cosmic and social order ultimately sustained by Vishnu’s supreme governance.