Shloka 26

गृहस्थस्य सदाचारः: शौच, तर্পण, वैश्वदेव, अतिथिधर्म, भोजन-विधि, संध्योपासन, ऋतु-धर्मः

Devanagari script

कूपेषूद्धृततोयेन स्नानं कुर्वीत वा भुवि स्नायीतोद्धृततोयेन अथवा भुव्य् असंभवे

Transliteration

kūpeṣūddhṛtatoyena snānaṃ kurvīta vā bhuvi snāyītoddhṛtatoyena athavā bhuvy asaṃbhave

Translation

கிணற்றிலிருந்து எடுக்கப்பட்ட நீரால் தரையில் நின்று குளிக்கலாம்; அல்லது தரையில் குளிக்க இயலாதபோது, எடுக்கப்பட்ட நீரைக் கொண்டு குளிக்க வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

कूपेषुin wells

उद्धृततोयेनwith drawn-up water

स्नानम्bathing

कुर्वीतshould do

वाor

भुविon the ground/on earth

स्नायीतshould bathe

उद्धृततोयेनwith drawn-up water

अथवाor alternatively

भुविon the ground/on earth

असंभवेin case of impossibility (when not possible)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

FAQs

What is the significance of ritual bathing (snāna) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats snāna as a dharmic purifier and gives practical allowances—bathing may be done with well-water drawn up, preserving ritual intent even when ideal conditions are unavailable.

How does Sage Parāśara explain adapting dharma when circumstances are difficult?

He provides an alternative procedure: if bathing upon the ground is not possible, one may still fulfill the observance by bathing with water that has been drawn and brought, emphasizing dharma’s continuity through permitted substitutions.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though Vishnu is not named here, the injunction supports the Vishnu Purana’s broader vision of cosmic order (ṛta/dharma): disciplined purity and daily rites sustain a life aligned with the Supreme Reality that Vishnu embodies.