Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

वैखानसत्वं गार्हस्थ्यमाश्रमद्वितयं विशः गार्हस्थ्ययमुत्तमं त्वेकं शूद्रस्य क्षणदाचर

Transliteration

vaikhānasatvaṃ gārhasthyamāśramadvitayaṃ viśaḥ gārhasthyayamuttamaṃ tvekaṃ śūdrasya kṣaṇadācara

Translation

ବୈଶ୍ୟ ପାଇଁ ଦୁଇ ଆଶ୍ରମ—ବୈଖାନସ ଜୀବନ ଓ ଗାର୍ହସ୍ଥ୍ୟ। କିନ୍ତୁ ଶୂଦ୍ର ପାଇଁ ଏକମାତ୍ର, ଉତ୍ତମ ଗାର୍ହସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ଆଶ୍ରମ, ହେ କ୍ଷଣଦାଚର।

Word by Word

• वैखानसत्वम्: the state of being a Vaikhānasa
• वैखानसत्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैखानस + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; त्व-प्रत्यय (भाववाचक: 'state/condition')

• गार्हस्थ्यम्: householder stage
• गार्हस्थ्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गार्हस्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• आश्रमद्वितयम्: a pair of āśramas (two stages)
• आश्रमद्वितयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम + द्वितय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आश्रमाणां द्वितयम् = two āśramas)

• विशः: of the vaiśya
• विशः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (विट्/वैश्य-समूहवाचक); अर्थतः 'वैश्यस्य'

• गार्हस्थ्यम्: householder stage
• गार्हस्थ्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गार्हस्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उत्तमम्: best; excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (गार्हस्थ्यम् इति)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: 'but/indeed')

• एकम्: one (only)
• एकम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• शूद्रस्य: of the śūdra
• शूद्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• क्षणदाचर: O night-roamer
• क्षणदाचर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षणद + आचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्षणदायां चरति इति = 'night-roamer')

Speakers

• Not stated in the provided excerpt (commonly Pulastya → Nārada framework in Vāmana Purāṇa; uncertain here)

Key Themes

• Varṇāśrama-dharma
• Gṛhastha-āśrama
• Social-religious duties

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames dharma as role- and stage-appropriate: one should follow the duties prescribed for one’s varṇa and āśrama, with gṛhastha presented as the foundational life for sustaining society.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily Dharma-śikṣā within Vamśānucarita/ācāra-oriented narration (didactic material rather than sarga/pratisarga cosmology).

What is the symbolic significance?

By calling gṛhastha ‘uttama’ (excellent), the text symbolically elevates the sustaining, duty-bearing life that supports ritual, charity, and social continuity.