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व्रतोपवासनियमस्तपो दानं च शक्तितः । भरणं भृत्यवर्गस्य दीनानामनुकम्पनम् ।।१३.२११.४५ परदारान्निवृत्तिश्च स्वदारेषु रतिः सदा ।...१३.२११.४६<ref name=":10" />

व्रतोपवासनियमस्तपो दानं च शक्तितः । भरणं भृत्यवर्गस्य दीनानामनुकम्पनम् ।।१३.२११.४५ परदारान्निवृत्तिश्च स्वदारेषु रतिः सदा ।...१३.२११.४६<ref name=":10" />

भरणं पुत्रदाराणां वेदानां चानुपालनम् । सेवतामाश्रमं श्रेष्ठं वदन्ति परमर्षयः ।।१२.६०.१५<ref name=":6" />

भरणं पुत्रदाराणां वेदानां चानुपालनम् । सेवतामाश्रमं श्रेष्ठं वदन्ति परमर्षयः ।।१२.६०.१५<ref name=":6">Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-12-%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-060 Adhyaya 60]</ref>

... pañcayajñakriyāśaucaṁ dāratuṣṭiratandritā ।।13.208.42  

... pañcayajñakriyāśaucaṁ dāratuṣṭiratandritā ।।13.208.42  

=== गृहस्थगुणाः ॥ ===

=== गृहस्थगुणाः ॥ ===

adhītya vedānkr̥tasarvakr̥tyaḥ saṁtānamutpādya sukhāni bhuktvā। samāhitaḥ pracaredduścaraṁ taṁ gārhasthyadharmaṁ munidharmajuṣṭam।।12.60.10</blockquote>The Manusmrti also iterates that among the brahmachari (student), grhastha (householder), Vanaprasthi (hermit) and the Sannyasi (renunciate), the grhastha is declared to be the best as he supports the other three.<ref>Ganganath Jha (1920-39), Manusmrti ([https://archive.org/details/manusmritiwithmedhatithisbhashyaenggnjhavol5_202003_709_l/page/962/mode/2up?view=theater Vol.5]), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref><blockquote>सर्वेषां अपि चैतेषां वेदस्मृतिविधानतः । गृहस्थ उच्यते श्रेष्ठः स त्रीनेतान्बिभर्ति हि । । ६.८९ । ।<ref name=":11" />

 

Speaking about the importance of the virtue of being devoted to one's wife alone, the Mahabharata says,

शरीरमेकं दंपत्योर्विधात्रा पूर्वनिर्मितम्। तस्मात्स्वदारनिरतो ब्रह्मचारी विधीयते।।13.211.46<ref name=":10" />

sarveṣāṁ api caiteṣāṁ vedasmr̥tividhānataḥ । gr̥hastha ucyate śreṣṭhaḥ sa trīnetānbibharti hi । । 6.89 । ।</blockquote>According to the Bhagavata Purana, a grhastha should be of a good character, moderate in eating, alert and prompt (in work), of reverential faith in shastras and self-controlled. It states that only when absolutely necessary and to that much extent only that a grhastha should deal with women (eg. for getting alms) or with those who are influenced by women.<ref name=":3">Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n99 P.no.968-969].</ref><blockquote>सुशीलो मितभुग्दक्षः श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः । यावदर्थं व्यवहरेत्स्त्रीषु स्त्रीनिर्जितेषु च ॥ ६॥<ref name=":4">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 12].</ref>  

The creator, in ancient times, had made a single body for a couple. Therefore, the one who is engaged with his wife alone is considered a brahmachari.<ref name=":12" />

''suśīlo mitabhugdakṣaḥ śraddadhāno jitendriyaḥ । yāvadarthaṁ vyavaharetstrīṣu strīnirjiteṣu ca ॥ 6॥''</blockquote>The Mahabharata mentions that only that grhastha is considered righteous who purifies his mind by performing the Panchamahayajnas, who always speaks the truth, who does not see fault in others, gives dana, honours brahmanas, who keeps his house spic and span, gives up his pride, is always straightforward, speaks lovingly, puts his mind in serving guests and visitors, partakes the food of yajnas and offers as per shastras padya, arghya, seat, cot, light and place to stay for a guest.<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>पञ्चयज्ञविशुद्धात्मा ऋतुनित्योऽनसूयकः। दान्तो ब्राह्मणसत्कर्ता सुसंमृष्टनिवेशनः।।१३.२११.१२

वैवाहिकेऽग्नौ कुर्वीत गृह्यं कर्म यथाविधि । पञ्चयज्ञविधानं च पक्तिं चान्वाहिकीं गृही । । ३.६७[५७ं] । ।<ref name=":0" />

पाद्यमर्घ्यं यथान्यायमासनं शयनं तथा। दीपं प्रतिश्रयं चैव यो ददाति स धार्मिकः।।१३.२११.१४<ref name=":10" />

A grhastha should perform grhya rites in the Vaivahika agni as well as the Panchamahayajnas and Nitya Paka.<ref name=":13" />

pañcayajñaviśuddhātmā r̥tunityo'nasūyakaḥ। dānto brāhmaṇasatkartā susaṁmr̥ṣṭaniveśanaḥ।।13.211.12

Doing homa in the vaivahika agni (the agni in whose presence one's marriage has taken place) as well as Vaishvadeva, Shanti-Paushtika karmas, Nitya paka, etc should be performed by a grhastha.<ref name=":15">Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.343659/page/n217/mode/2up?view=theater The Manusmriti], Lucknow: Newal Kishore Press.</ref>

cakṣuḥśrotramanojihvāsnigdhavarṇapradaḥ sadā। atithyabhyāgatarataḥ śeṣānnakr̥tabhojanaḥ।।13.211.13

According to the Mahabharata, honouring of guests, protection of the 3 fires (ie. garhapatya and others) is the duty of a grhastha. He must also perform the various ishtis and Pashubandhas according to the vidhis.<ref name=":8">Shastri, Ramnarayanadatta Pandey, Mahabharata Volume 6 (With Hindi Translation), Gorakhpur:Gita Press.</ref>

pādyamarghyaṁ yathānyāyamāsanaṁ śayanaṁ tathā। dīpaṁ pratiśrayaṁ caiva yo dadāti sa dhārmikaḥ।।13.211.14</blockquote>गृहस्थलक्षणानि ॥ Qualities of a Grhastha

The Grhastha is the very heart of the society as everything depends on him.<ref name=":5" />

The Grhastha is the very heart of the society as everything depends on him.<ref name=":5" />

Among the brahmachari (student), grhastha (householder), Vanaprasthi (hermit) and the Sannyasi (renunciate), in accordance with the injunction of the Vedic texts, the grhastha is declared to be the best as he supports the other three.<ref>Ganganath Jha (1920-39), Manusmrti ([https://archive.org/details/manusmritiwithmedhatithisbhashyaenggnjhavol5_202003_709_l/page/962/mode/2up?view=theater Vol.5]), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref>

The Mahabharata states that a grhastha should purify his mind by performing the Panchamahayajnas.<ref name=":12" />  

अहिंसा सत्यवचनं सर्वभूतानुकम्पनम्। शमो दानं यथाशक्ति गार्हस्थ्यो धर्म उत्तमः॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 141.25)

अहिंसा सत्यवचनं सर्वभूतानुकम्पनम्। शमो दानं यथाशक्ति गार्हस्थ्यो धर्म उत्तमः॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 141.25)

Maheshvara explains - Ahimsa (refraining from harming any being), speaking satya (truth), compassion towards all creatures, practicing shama (control of mind and indriyas or sense organs) and giving unto others as per one's capacity (dana) are the greatest dharmas to be followed by a grhastha.<ref name=":8" />  

Maheshvara explains - Ahimsa (refraining from harming any being), speaking satya (truth), compassion towards all creatures, practicing shama (control of mind and indriyas or sense organs) and giving unto others as per one's capacity (dana) are the greatest dharmas to be followed by a grhastha.<ref name=":8" />

The Bhagavata Purana says,<blockquote>सुशीलो मितभुग्दक्षः श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः । यावदर्थं व्यवहरेत्स्त्रीषु स्त्रीनिर्जितेषु च ॥ ६॥<ref name=":4">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 12].</ref>

=== गृहस्थकर्माणि ॥ ===

''suśīlo mitabhugdakṣaḥ śraddadhāno jitendriyaḥ । yāvadarthaṁ vyavaharetstrīṣu strīnirjiteṣu ca ॥ 6॥''</blockquote>Meaning: He should be of a good character, moderate in eating, alert and prompt (in work), of reverential faith in shastras and self-controlled. It is only when absolutely necessary and to that much extent only that he should deal with women (eg. for getting alms) or with those who are influenced by women.<ref name=":3">Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n99 P.no.968-969].</ref>

वैवाहिकेऽग्नौ कुर्वीत गृह्यं कर्म यथाविधि । पञ्चयज्ञविधानं च पक्तिं चान्वाहिकीं गृही । । ३.६७[५७ं] । ।<ref name=":0" />

अधीत्य वेदान्कृतसर्वकृत्यः संतानमुत्पाद्य सुखानि भुक्त्वा। समाहितः प्रचरेद्दुश्चरं तं गार्हस्थ्यधर्मं मुनिधर्मजुष्टम्।। 12.60.10 (61.10)<ref name=":6">Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-12-%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-060 Adhyaya 60]</ref>

Doing homa in the vaivahika agni (the agni in whose presence one's marriage has taken place) as well as Vaishvadeva, Shanti-Paushtika karmas, Nitya paka, etc should be performed by a grhastha.<ref name=":15">Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.343659/page/n217/mode/2up?view=theater The Manusmriti], Lucknow: Newal Kishore Press.</ref>

Having completed the study of Vedas and after having observed the auspicious karmas given in the Vedas, the one who gives birth to his offspring through his wedded wife and upholds the garhasthya dharma that entails duties akin to that of ascetics is the best.<ref name=":14" />

According to the Mahabharata, honouring of guests, protection of the 3 fires (ie. garhapatya and others) is the duty of a grhastha. He must also perform the various ishtis and Pashubandhas according to the vidhis.<ref name=":8">Shastri, Ramnarayanadatta Pandey, Mahabharata Volume 6 (With Hindi Translation), Gorakhpur:Gita Press.</ref>

 

The Mahabharata states that a grhastha should purify his mind by performing the Panchamahayajnas. A grhastha who always speaks the truth, who does not see fault in others, gives dana, honours brahmanas, who keeps his house spic and span, gives up his pride, is always straightforward, speaks lovingly, puts his mind in serving guests and visitors, partakes the food of yajnas and offers as per shastras padya, arghya, seat, cot, light and place to stay for a guest - Such a grhastha is considered righteous.<ref name=":12" />

 

 

 

पाद्यमर्घ्यं यथान्यायमासनं शयनं तथा। दीपं प्रतिश्रयं चैव यो ददाति स धार्मिकः।।13.211.14<ref name=":10" />

== Grhastha Dharma Palana Phalam ==

== Grhastha Dharma Palana Phalam ==

'''Mahabharata''', Anushasana Parva, Danadharma upaparva contains the details about how a grhastha in different varnas should conduct themselves and the qualities that should be cultured by every grhastha in the Uma Maheshvara Samvada (Adhyayas 140-146).

'''Mahabharata''', Anushasana Parva, Danadharma upaparva contains the details about how a grhastha in different varnas should conduct themselves and the qualities that should be cultured by every grhastha in the Uma Maheshvara Samvada (Adhyayas 140-146).

A grhastha should always be devoted to his own wife and find happiness therein. He should approach his wife for conjugal pleasure at appropriate time only. He should follow the instructions given in the shastras and defer from falsehood and deceit. He should eat in moderation, be diligent in the worship of the deities, exhibit gratitude towards those who help, speak truth, have a soft disposition towards everyone, not be cruel towards anyone and always hold on to tolerance.<ref name=":14">Pandit Ramnarayanadatta Shastri Pandey, Mahabharata (Khanda 5-Shantiparva), Gorakhpur: Gita Press.</ref>

A grhastha should always be devoted to his own wife and find happiness therein. He should approach his wife for conjugal pleasure at appropriate time only. He should follow the instructions given in the shastras and defer from falsehood and deceit. He should eat in moderation, be diligent in the worship of the deities, exhibit gratitude towards those who help, speak truth, have a soft disposition towards everyone, not be cruel towards anyone and always hold on to tolerance.<ref name=":14">Pandit Ramnarayanadatta Shastri Pandey, Mahabharata (Khanda 5-Shantiparva), Gorakhpur: Gita Press.</ref>

दान्तो विधेयो हव्यकव्याप्रमत्तो ह्यन्नस्य दाता सततं द्विजेभ्यः। अमत्सरी सर्वलिङ्गप्रदाता वैताननित्यश्च गृहाश्रमी स्यात्।। 12<ref name=":6" />

दान्तो विधेयो हव्यकव्याप्रमत्तो ह्यन्नस्य दाता सततं द्विजेभ्यः। अमत्सरी सर्वलिङ्गप्रदाता वैताननित्यश्च गृहाश्रमी स्यात्।। 12<ref name=":6" />