Shloka 17

Nāndīmukha-śrāddha (Prosperity Rites), Preta-kriyā, Aśauca, Ekoddiṣṭa, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Framework

Devanagari script

बाले देशान्तरस्थे च पतिते च मुनौ मृते सद्यः शौचं तथेच्छातो जलाग्न्युद्बन्धनादिषु

Transliteration

bāle deśāntarasthe ca patite ca munau mṛte sadyaḥ śaucaṃ tathecchāto jalāgnyudbandhanādiṣu

Translation

В случае ребёнка, человека, находящегося в чужой стране, падшего (отлучённого)—а также при смерти муни—очищение следует совершать немедленно. Так же предписано немедленное очищение для тех, кто по собственной воле прибегает к поступкам вроде погружения в воду, входа в огонь, повешения и тому подобного.

Word by Word

• bāle: in the case of a child
• bāle: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• deśāntara-sthe: when (someone) is in another country/place
• deśāntara-sthe: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (deśāntara = another place) + उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (stha = situated)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• patite: when (someone) has fallen (into calamity)
• patite: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patita (पतित, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from √pat)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• munau: in the case of a sage
• munau: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• mṛte: when (he) has died
• mṛte: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛta (मृत, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from √mṛ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• sadyaḥ: immediately
• sadyaḥ: Desha-Kala (Adverbial/देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: immediately)

• śaucam: purification (rite)
• śaucam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śauca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as विधेय (predicate-noun)

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus/so)

• icchātaḥ: as desired/at will
• icchātaḥ: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: from desire/at will)

• jala-agni-udbandhana-ādiṣu: in (rites such as) water, fire, hanging, etc.
• jala-agni-udbandhana-ādiṣu: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + udbandhana (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; समाहार-तत्पुरुषः (list-compound) with ādi (etc.)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Muni (sage)
• Patita (fallen person)

FAQs

What is the significance of sadyaḥ-śauca (immediate purification) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights that certain exceptional situations—specific deaths or transgressive/violent acts—require purification without delay, emphasizing dharma as a regulator of social and ritual order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain purity rules to Maitreya in this chapter?

Parāśara presents practical dharmic guidelines, listing particular cases where the standard timing of purity observances is modified, indicating a contextual and duty-based approach to śauca.

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

Although Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s dharma sections frame purity and right conduct as part of sustaining cosmic order (dharma), ultimately upheld under Vishnu’s sovereign governance of the world.