Shloka 121

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

Devanagari script

चैत्यचत्वरतीरेषु नैव गोष्ठे चतुष्पथे नैव श्मशानोपवने सलिलेषु महीपते

Transliteration

caityacatvaratīreṣu naiva goṣṭhe catuṣpathe naiva śmaśānopavane salileṣu mahīpate

Translation

国王啊，不应在神殿、广场、牛棚、十字路口、火葬场、园林或水中进行（性行为）。

Word by Word

• चैत्यचत्वरतीरेषु: on the banks/edges of shrine-squares (public sacred places)
• चैत्यचत्वरतीरेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + चत्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (चैत्यस्य चत्वरस्य तीराणि/तीरेषु)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• एव: at all/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• गोष्ठे: in a cowshed/cattle-pen
• गोष्ठे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• चतुष्पथे: at a crossroads
• चतुष्पथे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (चत्वारः पथाः यस्मिन् = crossroads)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• एव: at all/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• श्मशानोपवने: in a grove near a cremation-ground
• श्मशानोपवने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (श्मशानस्य उपवनम्)

• सलिलेषु: in waters
• सलिलेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन

• महीपते: O king (lord of the earth)
• महीपते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case), एकवचन; मही + पति (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya; addressing a kingly listener within the instruction as 'mahīpate')

Characters & Entities

• Parashara
• Maitreya
• Kings

FAQs

What is the significance of restricting sacred acts at crossroads, cremation grounds, and waters in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse emphasizes deśa-śuddhi (purity of place): certain locations are considered distracting, impure, or socially turbulent, and thus unsuitable for steady, sāttvika recitation or ritual observance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain proper discipline for religious practice in this chapter?

Parāśara lists practical do’s and don’ts—especially about place and conduct—so that worship and recitation are performed with composure, cleanliness, and reverence, aligning daily life with dharma.

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

Even when the verse is about outward discipline, its purpose is inward: creating the purity and mental steadiness that supports devotion and right orientation toward Vishnu as the supreme refuge and sustaining order (dharma).