Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.499

c7.499

A true Gṛhastha should daily worship devas, cows, brahmins, scholars, old men and preceptors. He should worship sandhyā (dawn and dusk) daily and also fire. He should wear on his body leaves of Viṣṇukrānti, Karuka (couch grass), Tulasī (holy basil plant). He should appear neat and smart wearing good dress, with white flowers on his well combed head. He should never steal, speak unpleasant words to anybody nor speak an untruth even if it be pleasant. He should not openly speak about the sins of others. He should not covet another man's wife. He should not travel in a damaged vehicle nor should he sit under the shade of a tree on the banks of a river. A Gṛhastha should not mingle with such persons as (1) men hated by the people (2) outcastes from society (3) insane men (4) those having a great number of enemies (5) those that torment others (6) prostitutes (7) husbands of prostitutes (8) those who use abusive language (9) those who tell lies (10) spendthrifts (11) scandalmongers and (12) rogues. Never travel alone. He should not bathe against the flow in a river. Never enter a house on fire nor climb to the extreme top of trees. He should not grind his teeth, squeeze out his nose, yawn without covering the mouth, breathe or spit, with the face covered, laugh noisily, breathe out with a sound, bite the teeth, pinch grasses or write or draw on the ground (Amśa 3, Viṣṇu Purāṇa).