Shloka 12

सदाचार-नियमाः: शील, संयम, संग-निषेध, शुचिता, वाणी-नीति, परोपकारः

Devanagari script

नग्नां परस्त्रियं चैव सूर्यं चास्तमनोदये न हुंकुर्याच् छवं चैव शवगन्धो हि सोमजः

Transliteration

nagnāṃ parastriyaṃ caiva sūryaṃ cāstamanodaye na huṃkuryāc chavaṃ caiva śavagandho hi somajaḥ

Translation

Не следует издавать грубое фырканье или презрительный звук в присутствии нагого человека, чужой жены, а также при восходе и закате Солнца; и не следует делать этого возле трупа, ибо говорится, что Сомаджа (Луна) несёт на себе скверну запаха мёртвых.

Word by Word

nagnāma naked woman

parastriyamanother man's wife

caand

evaindeed/just

sūryamthe sun

caand

astamana-udayeat sunset and sunrise

nanot

huṃkuryātshould make a 'hum' sound/shout

śavama corpse

caand

evaindeed/just

śavagandhaḥsmell of a corpse

hiindeed/for

somajaḥborn of Soma (the moon)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

Surya (the Sun)

Soma (the Moon)

FAQs

What is the significance of sunrise and sunset etiquette in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats sunrise and sunset as sacred thresholds (sandhyā) where reverence and restraint—especially in speech—protect purity and align a person with cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain proper conduct (ācāra) in daily life?

He frames dharma as lived discipline: controlling speech and behavior in sensitive contexts (women’s honor, sacred times, and death-related impurity) so that inner restraint supports outer ritual purity.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the teaching reflects Vaishnava dharma: maintaining purity and self-control sustains ṛta (universal order), which the Purāṇa presents as ultimately governed and upheld by the Supreme Reality, Vishnu.