Shloka 77

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

Devanagari script

कृते जपे हुते वह्नौ शुद्धवस्त्रधरो नृप दत्त्वातिथिभ्यो विप्रेभ्यो गुरुभ्यः संश्रिताय च पुण्यगन्धधरः शस्तमाल्यधारी नरेश्वर

Transliteration

kṛte jape hute vahnau śuddhavastradharo nṛpa dattvātithibhyo viprebhyo gurubhyaḥ saṃśritāya ca puṇyagandhadharaḥ śastamālyadhārī nareśvara

Translation

大王啊，诵念圣咒既毕，又于净火中奉献供物之后，当着洁净衣服。既已如法施与宾客、婆罗门、师长及来投依者所应得之物，便当薰以吉祥妙香，佩以相称花鬘，如法庄严自身，乃为人主所宜。

Word by Word

• कृते: when (the rite is) done / after performing
• कृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृत (कृ-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्यय (सप्तमी-तत्सम/लोके), ‘कृते’ = ‘कृते (काले)’ इति; adverbial locative usage

• जपे: in (the act of) japa / recitation
• जपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative

• हुते: when oblation is offered
• हुते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हुत (हु-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; ‘हुते (काले)’ इति; adverbial locative usage

• वह्नौ: in the fire
• वह्नौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• शुद्धवस्त्रधरः: wearing clean clothes
• शुद्धवस्त्रधरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (धृ-धातु, अच्-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः = शुद्धानि वस्त्राणि धरतीति

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• अतिथिभ्यः: to guests
• अतिथिभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), बहुवचन

• विप्रेभ्यः: to brāhmaṇas
• विप्रेभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), बहुवचन

• गुरुभ्यः: to elders/teachers
• गुरुभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), बहुवचन

• संश्रिताय: to one who has taken refuge (a dependent)
• संश्रिताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संश्रित (श्रि-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; ‘संश्रित’ = आश्रित (dependent/suppliant)

• च: and
• च: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुण्यगन्धधरः: bearing a pure/fragrant scent
• पुण्यगन्धधरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (धृ-धातु, अच्-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः = पुण्यः गन्धः यस्य सः/पुण्यगन्धं धरतीति

• शस्तमाल्यधारी: wearing approved/auspicious garlands
• शस्तमाल्यधारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + धारिन् (धृ-धातु, इनि-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः = शस्तं माल्यं धारयतीति

• नरेश्वर: O lord of men (king)
• नरेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in dialogue with Maitreya; addressed here as 'O king' as a conventional vocative within dharma-instruction style)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Duties and daily conduct (ācāra) appropriate to dharma, especially post-ritual purity and household obligations

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After completing japa and fire-offerings, one should maintain ritual purity and fulfill obligations to guests, brahmins, teachers, and dependents before personal adornment.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat daily spiritual practice as incomplete unless followed by generosity, cleanliness, and respectful social duties.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma as Bhagavad-ājñā: embodied, social action becomes service within Vishnu’s ordained order.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins (Vipras)
• Gurus/Teachers
• Atithis (Guests)
• Dependents/Refuge-seekers (Saṃśrita)
• Sacrificial Fire (Vahni)

FAQs

What is the significance of giving to guests, Brahmins, and gurus in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames giving and hospitality as the natural completion of worship: ritual purity is not merely personal, but culminates in sustaining the social and spiritual order through honoring guests, supporting Brahmins, and revering teachers.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the ideal conduct after japa and fire-oblation?

He presents a sequence: complete the sacred acts, adopt outward purity (clean garments), fulfill obligations to others through gifts and care for dependents, and then take on auspicious adornment—showing that inner devotion should flow into ethical action.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the teaching reflects Vaishnava dharma: worship of the Supreme is validated by conduct that protects and nourishes beings, aligning personal practice with the sustaining order attributed to Vishnu as preserver.