Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

अतीव जागरस्वप्ने तद्वत् स्थानासने बुधः न सेवेत तथा शय्यां व्यायामं च नरेश्वर

Transliteration

atīva jāgarasvapne tadvat sthānāsane budhaḥ na seveta tathā śayyāṃ vyāyāmaṃ ca nareśvara

Translation

O panginoon ng mga tao, ang matalinong tao ay hindi dapat magmalabis sa paggising o pagtulog; gayundin sa pagtayo, pag-upo, o ehersisyo.

Word by Word

• अतीव: excessively
• अतीव: Vishesana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अतिशयवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• जागरस्वप्ने: in waking and sleeping
• जागरस्वप्ने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जागर-स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (जागर + स्वप्न)

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (meaning ‘likewise/in the same way’)

• स्थानासने: in standing and sitting
• स्थानासने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान-आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (स्थान + आसन)

• बुधः: the wise man
• बुधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• सेवेत: should indulge in / resort to
• सेवेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तथा: also; similarly
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb ‘thus/also’)

• शय्याम्: bed; lying down
• शय्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्यायामम्: exercise
• व्यायामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यायाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• नरेश्वर: O lord of men (king)
• नरेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘नराणाम् ईश्वरः’)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya, framed as counsel applicable to kings—addressing 'nareśvara')

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Rules of disciplined living—sleep, wakefulness, posture, and exertion

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: practical and prescriptive

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The wise avoid extremes in sleep, wakefulness, inactivity, and even exertion; balanced habit sustains dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Keep regular sleep, avoid sedentary stagnation, and practice sustainable exercise—aiming for steadiness rather than intensity spikes.

Vishishtadvaita: Body-discipline is valued as a real instrument for serving the Lord through dharma and bhakti (śarīra as dharma-sādhana).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kings
• The wise (budha)

FAQs

What is the significance of moderation (avoiding extremes) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents moderation as a core discipline of dharma: excess sleep, excess wakefulness, constant sitting/standing, indulgence in bed, or extreme exertion all disrupt steadiness of mind and the capacity to uphold righteous order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain disciplined conduct for rulers and the wise?

Through practical restraints—regulating sleep, activity, rest, and exercise—Parāśara frames self-mastery as the foundation of effective kingship and ethical life, aligning personal rhythm with dharmic stability.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the teaching serves Vishnu’s cosmic sovereignty: the ruler’s self-control sustains dharma in society, reflecting the ordered governance that ultimately rests on Vishnu as the supreme ground of law and harmony.