Dietary Rules & Purification — Dietary Rules, Purification (Śauca), and the Duties of the Householder and Forest-Dweller
दम्भार्थं जपते यश्च तप्यते यजते तथा न परत्रार्थमुद्यक्तो स मार्जारः प्रकीर्तितिः
dambhārthaṃ japate yaśca tapyate yajate tathā na paratrārthamudyakto sa mārjāraḥ prakīrtitiḥ
Seseorang yang melafalkan japa, menjalani tapa, dan melaksanakan yajña hanya demi pamer, serta tidak bertekad pada tujuan sejati alam baka, dinyatakan sebagai ‘mārjāra’ (kucing—lambang kemunafikan yang licik).
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Religious acts gain value through intention (bhāva). When japa, tapas, and yajña are performed for reputation rather than spiritual ends, they are ethically hollow and even blameworthy.
This is ācāra/śīla instruction embedded within Purāṇic teaching, not a direct instance of sarga/pratisarga/vamśa/manvantara/vamśānucarita.
‘Mārjāra’ (cat) suggests stealth and predation: outwardly calm, inwardly self-serving. The metaphor critiques performative spirituality that ‘hunts’ social honor rather than seeking dharma or liberation.