Shloka 6

चत्वारोऽाश्रमाः — ब्रह्मचर्यादि मोक्षाश्रमपर्यन्तम्

The Four Āśramas as a graded path to mokṣa

Devanagari script

अवगाहेद् अपः पूर्वम् आचार्येणावगाहिताः समिज्जलादिकं चास्य काल्यं काल्यम् उपानयेत्

Transliteration

avagāhed apaḥ pūrvam ācāryeṇāvagāhitāḥ samijjalādikaṃ cāsya kālyaṃ kālyam upānayet

Translation

First he should bathe in the water sanctified by his teacher’s own bathing; and, morning after morning, at the proper time, he should bring for his teacher what is needed—firewood, water, and the like.

Word by Word

• अवगाहेत्: should bathe/immerse
• अवगाहेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-गाह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अपः: waters
• अपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (अप्-शब्दः), द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण), ‘first/before’

• आचार्येण: by the teacher
• आचार्येण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अवगाहिताः: (waters) used/entered (by him)
• अवगाहिताः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव-गाह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘(waters) bathed/entered’

• समित्-जल-आदिकम्: fuel-sticks, water, and the like
• समित्-जल-आदिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समित् (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ-समास (समित् च जलं च आदिकं च), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• अस्य: of him/for him
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• काल्यम्: morning (duty/item)
• काल्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to be done in the morning)

• काल्यम्: morning (again/emphatic)
• काल्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• उपानयेत्: should bring/present
• उपानयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-नी (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in dialogue with Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Daily brahmacārin regimen: purification and guru-sevā as part of Vedic discipline

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: practical and prescriptive

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification and punctual service to the guru are integral limbs of Vedic study, not optional accessories.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Adopt a consistent morning discipline—cleanliness, punctuality, and helpful service to teachers/elders in one’s learning community.

Vishishtadvaita: Embodied acts of purity and service become modes of worship, aligning the individual’s conduct with the Lord’s order (niyati).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Acharya (teacher)
• Brahmacarin (student)

FAQs

What is the significance of bathing in water sanctified by the teacher in the Vishnu Purana?

It emphasizes discipline and transmission of dharma through the guru: the student begins the day by aligning bodily purity with the teacher’s established rite and authority.

How does Sage Parāśara explain proper student conduct (brahmacarya) here?

He frames brahmacarya as timed, repeated service—bathing first, then daily bringing essentials like firewood and water—showing that learning is grounded in routine, humility, and attentive service.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the verse supports a Vaiṣṇava view of cosmic order: disciplined dharma and reverence for lawful authority are practical expressions of living within the sovereignty of the Supreme Reality.