Part III: Sacred Order and Duties — Vishnu Purana

Read all 18 source sections in Part III, Sacred Order and Duties, of the Vishnu Purana.

All six parts

Dharma

  1. Section 1: Accounts of the several Manus and Manwantaras Shwarochisha the second Manu

    Accounts of the several Manus and Manwantaras Shwarochisha the second Manu; the divinities, the Indra, the seven Rishis of his period and his sons. Similar details of Auttami, Tamasa, Raivata, Chakshusha, and Vaivaswata. The forms of Vishnu, as the preserver, in each Manwantara. The meaning of Vishnu.

  2. Section 2: Of the seven future Manus and Manwantaras

    Of the seven future Manus and Manwantaras. Story of Sanjna and Chhaya, wives of the Sun. Savarni son of Chhaya the eighth Manu. His successors, with divinities, &c of their respective periods. Appearance of Vishnu in each of the four Yugas.

  3. Section 3: Division of the Vedas into four portions, by a Vyasa in every Dwapara age

    Division of the Vedas into four portions, by a Vyasa in every Dwapara age. List of the twenty-eight Vyasas of the present Manwantara. Meaning of the word Brahmā.

  4. Section 4: Division of the Veda, in the last Dwapara age, by the Vyasa Krishna Dwaipayana

    Division of the Veda, in the last Dwapara age, by the Vyasa Krishna Dwaipayana. Paila made reader of the Rich; Vaisampayana of the Yajush; Jaimani of the Saman and Sumantu of the Atharvan. Suta appointed to teach the historical poems. Origin of the four parts of the Veda. Sanhitas of the Rig Veda.

  5. Section 5: Division of the Yajur-veda

    Division of the Yajur-veda. Story of Yajnawalkya forced to give up what he has learned, picked up by others, forming the Taittiriya-yajush. Yajnawalkya worships the Sun who communicates to him the Vajasaneyi-yajush.

  6. Section 6: Divisions of the Sama-veda

    Divisions of the Sama-veda; of the Atharva-veda. Four Pauranik Sanhitas. Names of the eighteen Puranas. Branches of knowledge. Classes of Rishis.

  7. Section 7: By what means men are exempted from the authority of Yama, as narrated by Bhishma to Nakula

    By what means men are exempted from the authority of Yama, as narrated by Bhishma to Nakula. Dialogue between Yama and one of his attendants. Worshippers of Vishnu not subject to Yama. How they are to be known.

  8. Section 8: How Vishnu is to be worshipped as related by Aurva to Sagara

    How Vishnu is to be worshipped as related by Aurva to Sagara. Duties of the four castes, severally and in common; also in time of distress.

  9. Section 9: Duties of the religious student, householder, hermit and mendicant

    Duties of the religious student, householder, hermit and mendicant.

  10. Section 10: Ceremonies to be observed at the birth and naming of a child

    Ceremonies to be observed at the birth and naming of a child. Of marrying or leading a religious life. Choice of a wife. Different modes of marrying.

  11. Section 11: Of the Sadacharas or perpetual obligation of a householder

    Of the Sadacharas or perpetual obligation of a householder. Daily purifications, ablutions, libations, and oblations; hospitality; obsequial rites; ceremonies to be observed at meals, morning and evening worship, and on going to rest.

  12. Section 12: Miscellaneous obligations—purificatory, ceremonial and moral

    Miscellaneous obligations—purificatory, ceremonial and moral.

  13. Section 13: Of Sraddhas, or rites in honour of ancestors, to be performed on occasions of rejoicing

    Of Sraddhas, or rites in honour of ancestors, to be performed on occasions of rejoicing. Obsequial ceremonies. Of the Ekoddishta or monthly Srāddha, and the Sapindana or annual one. By whom to be performed.

  14. Section 14: Of occasional Sraddhas, or obsequial ceremonies

    Of occasional Sraddhas, or obsequial ceremonies; when most efficacious, and at what places.

  15. Section 15: What Brahmans are to be entertained at Sraddhas

    What Brahmans are to be entertained at Sraddhas; Different prayers to be recited. Offerings of food to be presented to deceased ancestor.

  16. Section 16: Things proper to be offered as food to deceased ancestors

    Things proper to be offered as food to deceased ancestors; prohibited things. Circumstances vetiating a Srāddha; how to be avoided. Song of the Pitris or progenitors, heard by Ikshwāku.

  17. Section 17: Of heretics, or those who rejects the authority of the Vedas

    Of heretics, or those who rejects the authority of the Vedas; their origin, as described by the Vasistha to Bhishma; the gods, defeated by the Daityas, praise Vishnu; an illusory being or Buddha, produced from his body.

  18. Section 18: Buddha goes to the earth and teaches the Daityas to contempt the Vedas

    Buddha goes to the earth and teaches the Daityas to contempt the Vedas; his sceptical doctrines; his prohibition of animal sacrifices. Meaning of the term Bauddha. Tainas and Bauddhas, their tenets. The Daityas loose their power and are overcome by the gods. Meaning of the term Nagna. Consequences of neglect of Duty. Story of Satadbanu and his wife Saivya. Communion with heretics to be shunned.