Shloka 19

Devanagari script

नित्यं यज्ञोपवीती स्याच्छुक्लवासा: शुचिव्रत: । नियतो यमदानाभ्यां सदा शिष्टैश्न संविशेत्‌,सदा यज्ञोपवीत धारण किये रहे, स्वच्छ वस्त्र पहने, उत्तम व्रतका पालन करे, शौच- संतोष आदि नियमों और सत्य-अहिंसा आदि यमोंके पालनपूर्वक यथाशक्ति दान करता रहे तथा सदा शिष्ट पुरुषोंके साथ निवास करे

Transliteration

nityaṁ yajñopavītī syāc chuklavāsāḥ śucivrataḥ | niyato yamadānābhyāṁ sadā śiṣṭaiś na saṁviśet |

Translation

Vāyu said: “Let a person always wear the sacred thread, dress in clean white garments, and observe pure and disciplined vows. Let him be self-restrained through the practice of yama (ethical restraints) and through giving according to his capacity, and let him always keep company with the cultured and well-conducted, never dwelling among the unrefined.”

Word by Word

नित्यम्always

यज्ञोपवीतीwearing the sacred thread

स्यात्should be

शुक्लवासा:one whose garments are white

शुचिव्रत:one of pure observances

नियत:disciplined, restrained

यमदानाभ्याम्by (means of) yama and giving (charity)

सदाalways

शिष्टैःwith the cultured/virtuous (people)

नnot

संविशेत्should dwell/associate (enter into company)

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyu (Vāyudeva)

yajñopavīta (sacred thread)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches a dharmic lifestyle: maintain outward and inward purity (sacred thread, clean clothing, pure vows), cultivate self-restraint through yama (moral disciplines), practice charity according to ability, and seek the company of the virtuous while avoiding corrupting associations.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is giving prescriptive guidance on right conduct—laying down practical markers of disciplined living and ethical formation, emphasizing that character is strengthened by restraint, generosity, and association with śiṣṭa (cultured, righteous) people.