Shloka 55

Dietary Rules & Purification — Dietary Rules, Purification (Śauca), and the Duties of the Householder and Forest-Dweller

Devanagari script

एष दूद्देशतः प्रोक्तो गृस्थाश्रम उत्तमः वानप्रस्थाश्रमं धर्मं प्रवक्ष्यामो ऽवधार्यताम्

Transliteration

eṣa dūddeśataḥ prokto gṛsthāśrama uttamaḥ vānaprasthāśramaṃ dharmaṃ pravakṣyāmo 'vadhāryatām

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ സംക്ഷിപ്തമായി ഗൃഹസ്ഥാശ്രമത്തിന്റെ ഉത്തമവിധി പ്രസ്താവിച്ചു. ഇനി വാനപ്രസ്ഥാശ്രമധർമ്മം വിശദീകരിക്കുന്നു—ശ്രദ്ധയോടെ ഗ്രഹിക്കട്ടെ।

Word by Word

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दूर्-देशतः: briefly / from afar (in outline)
• दूर्-देशतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; तद्धितान्त अव्यय ‘-तस्’ (ablatival adverb): ‘दूरदेशतः’ = from a distant region / in brief from afar (sense: ‘in outline’)

• प्रोक्तः: has been stated/taught
• प्रोक्तः: Karta-sāmānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘एषः’ इत्यस्य विधेयविशेषणम्

• गृहस्थ-आश्रमः: the householder stage
• गृहस्थ-आश्रमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः): गृहस्थस्य आश्रमः

• उत्तमः: excellent, best
• उत्तमः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आश्रमः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वानप्रस्थ-आश्रमम्: the forest-dweller stage
• वानप्रस्थ-आश्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानप्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: वानप्रस्थस्य आश्रमः

• धर्मम्: duty, dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘प्रवक्ष्यामः’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• प्रवक्ष्यामः: we shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future/लृट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अवधार्यताम्: let it be understood/considered
• अवधार्यताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-धृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/लोट्), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आज्ञार्थे—‘let it be understood/ascertained’

Speakers

• Narrative layer not specified in input (commonly Pulastya → Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa); speaker unspecified here

Key Themes

• Āśrama system
• Textual transition marker
• Vānaprastha
• Instruction (upadeśa)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames dharma as progressive training: after fulfilling household responsibilities, one is invited toward renunciation-in-stages (vānaprastha), emphasizing mindful listening and deliberate transition.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is an instructional segue (ācāra-dharma) rather than pañcalakṣaṇa narrative (sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara/vaṃśānucarita). It functions as a structural marker within didactic material.

What is the symbolic significance?

It symbolizes the Purāṇic ideal of life-as-yajña: duties are not abandoned abruptly but refined—moving from social sacrifice (gṛhastha) to inner/forest discipline (vānaprastha).