Shloka 1

चत्वारोऽाश्रमाः — ब्रह्मचर्यादि मोक्षाश्रमपर्यन्तम्

The Four Āśramas as a graded path to mokṣa

Devanagari script

बालः कृतोपनयनो वेदाहरणतत्परः गुरुगेहे वसेद् भूप ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः

Transliteration

bālaḥ kṛtopanayano vedāharaṇatatparaḥ gurugehe vased bhūpa brahmacārī samāhitaḥ

Translation

After undergoing upanayana, O King, the boy should dwell in his teacher’s house as a disciplined brahmacārin, steady in mind and intent on receiving and studying the Veda.

Word by Word

• बालः: a boy
• बालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कृतोपनयनः: one whose initiation has been performed
• कृतोपनयनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु + क्त) + उपनयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (कृतम् उपनयनम् यस्य)

• वेदाहरणतत्परः: intent on studying/bringing (learning) the Veda
• वेदाहरणतत्परः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + आहरण (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वेद-आहरणे तत्परः)

• गुरुगेहे: in the teacher’s house
• गुरुगेहे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + गेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गुरोः गेहे)

• वसेत्: should dwell
• वसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• ब्रह्मचारी: a brahmacārin (student)
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणि चारि)

• समाहितः: composed, attentive
• समाहितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in dialogue with Maitreya; addressing the kingly ideal as a normative instruction)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Duties of the brahmacārin after upanayana within āśrama-dharma

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: methodical

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahmacarya begins after upanayana: living with the guru, steady-minded, devoted to receiving the Veda as the basis of dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Create a period of disciplined learning under mentorship—simplicity, routine, and focused study—before pursuing status or pleasure.

Vishishtadvaita: Vedic study and disciplined service are treated as preparatory limbs that orient the self toward the Supreme Lord as the ultimate end of dharma.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Guru (teacher)
• Brahmachari (student)
• Veda

FAQs

What is the significance of upanayana in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents upanayana as the formal beginning of disciplined Vedic learning, after which the student should live in the guru’s house and cultivate self-control.

How does Sage Parāśara explain brahmacharya as a dharmic practice?

By defining brahmacharya as focused Vedic acquisition under a teacher, supported by mental composure and restraint—training that stabilizes one’s life in dharma.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even while teaching social discipline, the Purana treats dharmic training as preparation for higher realization—ultimately orienting the person toward Vishnu as the supreme goal.