Shloka 20

चत्वारोऽाश्रमाः — ब्रह्मचर्यादि मोक्षाश्रमपर्यन्तम्

The Four Āśramas as a graded path to mokṣa

Devanagari script

चर्मकाशकुशैः कुर्यात् परिधानोत्तरीयके तद्वत् त्रिषवणं स्नानं शस्तम् अस्य नरेश्वर

Transliteration

carmakāśakuśaiḥ kuryāt paridhānottarīyake tadvat triṣavaṇaṃ snānaṃ śastam asya nareśvara

Translation

O lord of men, let him fashion his lower garment and upper wrap from leather, kāśa grass, and kuśa; likewise, bathing at the three daily sandhyā-junctions is declared the proper rule for him.

Word by Word

• चर्म: hide, skin
• चर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• काश: kāśa grass
• काश: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (masculine, nominative/accusative singular)

• कुशैः: with kuśa grass
• कुशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (masculine, instrumental plural)

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

• परिधानोत्तरीयके: in the (matter of) lower and upper garments
• परिधानोत्तरीयके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिधान (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तरीयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (neuter, locative singular); द्वन्द्वसमास (copulative)

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverbial), तुल्यतावाचक (meaning ‘likewise’)

• त्रिषवणम्: three-times-a-day
• त्रिषवणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + सवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular); द्विगुसमास (numerical)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• शस्तम्: commended, prescribed
• शस्तम्: Pradhana-visheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शस् (धातु) → शस्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (past passive participle; neuter nom/acc sg)

• अस्य: for him/of him
• अस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन (genitive singular)

• नरेश्वर: O lord of men (king)
• नरेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (masculine, vocative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (lord of men)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya; addressing a kingly archetype as 'nareśvara')

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Duties and regimen of the vānaprastha (forest-dweller) āśrama within varṇāśrama-dharma

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External simplicity and regulated purity (triṣavaṇa-snāna, austere clothing) support inner steadiness in dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Adopt a consistent daily sādhana rhythm and reduce needless consumption to strengthen self-control.

Vishishtadvaita: Discipline is framed as service to Bhagavān’s order (niyati/dharma), preparing the self for God-centered realization rather than mere self-mortification.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kusha grass (Kuśa)
• Kāśa grass
• Kings

FAQs

What is the significance of triṣavaṇa snāna (three daily baths) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents triṣavaṇa bathing as a prescribed discipline of purity and self-regulation, aligning daily life with dharma through morning–midday–evening observance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain daily conduct (ācāra) in this context?

Parāśara frames ācāra as concrete practice—proper clothing and repeated purification—showing that dharma is upheld not only by belief but by disciplined routine.

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

Though Vishnu is not named here, the discipline of purity and dharma is presented as participation in the divine order that Vishnu sustains as the Supreme Lord of cosmic governance.