Shloka 26
सदाचार-नियमाः: शील, संयम, संग-निषेध, शुचिता, वाणी-नीति, परोपकारः
अपसव्यं न गच्छेच् च देवागारचतुष्पथान् माङ्गल्यपूज्यांश् च ततो विपरीतान् न दक्षिणम्
apasavyaṃ na gacchec ca devāgāracatuṣpathān māṅgalyapūjyāṃś ca tato viparītān na dakṣiṇam
मंदिरों और चौराहों की अपसव्य (वामावर्त) परिक्रमा न करे; तथा जो माङ्गल्य और पूज्य हैं, उनके चारों ओर भी ऐसा न चले, और विपरीत रीति से उन्हें दाहिनी ओर रखकर भी न चले।
Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)
FAQs
This verse treats bodily orientation as an expression of dharma: moving in the prescribed reverential manner around temples and auspicious objects preserves auspiciousness and avoids actions considered ritually inverting sacred order.
Parāśara frames it as ācāra: one should not circle or pass sacred sites like temples and crossroads in an inauspicious way, and should avoid contrarian movement that places what is worship-worthy on the wrong side.
Though the verse is practical, its intent is devotional: correct ācāra around the deity’s abode (devāgāra) honors the Supreme Lord’s presence in the world and aligns everyday action with dharma upheld by Vishnu.