Vamana Purana — Rules of Purity (Shauca), Shloka 12

Rules of Purity (Śauca), Permissible Foods, and the Duties of the Householder and Forest-Dweller

Devanagari script

स्वकर्मणा धनं लब्ध्वा पितृदेवातिथीनपि सम्यक् संप्रीणयेद् भक्त्या सदाचाररतो द्विजः

Transliteration

svakarmaṇā dhanaṃ labdhvā pitṛdevātithīnapi samyak saṃprīṇayed bhaktyā sadācārarato dvijaḥ

Translation

以自身如法之业得财之后，乐于正行（sadācāra）的二生者，应以虔敬之心，恰当地使祖灵（pitṛ）、诸天与来宾皆得满足。

Word by Word

• स्व-कर्मणा: by one’s own work
• स्व-कर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय: 'स्वं कर्म'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/क्त्वा); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having obtained)

• पितृ-देव-अतिथीन्: ancestors, gods, and guests
• पितृ-देव-अतिथीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार/इतरेतर: 'पितरश्च देवाश्च अतिथयश्च'); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात (also/even)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (properly)

• सम्प्रीणयेत्: should satisfy/please
• सम्प्रीणयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्री (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन

• सदाचार-रतः: devoted to good conduct
• सदाचार-रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदाचार (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सदाचारे रतः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (द्विजः)

• द्विजः: the twice-born
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speakers

• Unspecified in the provided excerpt (likely within the Purāṇic dialogue frame
• often Pulastya instructing Nārada)

Primary Deities

• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Gṛhastha duties
• Hospitality (Atithi-sevā)
• Pitṛ-yajña / Deva-yajña (implied)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Wealth is legitimized when earned through one’s rightful duty and then redirected toward obligations: ancestors (continuity and gratitude), gods (cosmic reciprocity), and guests (social compassion). Devotion (bhakti) is framed as the inner quality that makes these acts spiritually efficacious.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is prescriptive dharma teaching within a Purāṇic setting, not a direct sarga/pratisarga/vamśa narrative. It supports the lived religion that Purāṇas disseminate alongside the five marks.

What is the symbolic significance?

‘Pitṛ–Deva–Atithi’ forms a triad of vertical and horizontal duty: past (ancestors), cosmic order (gods), and present society (guests). The verse symbolically integrates artha (wealth) into dharma, preventing it from becoming mere accumulation.