Shloka 1

वंशस्मरण-फलम्, वैशालिका-प्रसङ्गः, रेवती-बलदेव-विवाहः, विष्णु-परतत्त्व-स्तुतिः

Devanagari script

भगवन् यन् नरैः कार्यं साधुकर्मण्य् अवस्थितैः तन् मह्यं गुरुणाख्यातं नित्यनैमित्तिकात्मकम्

Transliteration

bhagavan yan naraiḥ kāryaṃ sādhukarmaṇy avasthitaiḥ tan mahyaṃ guruṇākhyātaṃ nityanaimittikātmakam

Translation

أيها المبارك، لقد أخبرني المعلم بما يجب أن يفعله الرجال الراسخون في العمل الصالح، من واجبات يومية وتلك التي تظهر في مناسبات خاصة.

Word by Word

• भगवन्: O Lord
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• यत्: what/that which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• नरैः: by men
• नरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• कार्यम्: to be done; duty
• कार्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम् (Singular); विधेय-नाम (predicate noun) यत् इति

• साधुकर्मणि: in good conduct/virtuous action
• साधुकर्मणि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), एकवचनम् (Singular); कर्मधारयः: साधु कर्म (good deed)

• अवस्थितैः: by those who are established
• अवस्थितैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + स्था (धातु) → अवस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम् (Plural); क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past passive participle)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचनम् (Singular); अत्र कर्मरूपेण (as object)

• मह्यम्: to me
• मह्यम्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्गे चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (4th/Dative), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• गुरुणा: by the teacher
• गुरुणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• आख्यातम्: told/explained
• आख्यातम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + ख्या (धातु) → आख्यात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचनम् (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः; तत् इति विशेषणम्

• नित्यनैमित्तिकात्मकम्: consisting of daily and occasional (duties)
• नित्यनैमित्तिकात्मकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + नैमित्तिक (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचनम् (Singular); विशेषणम् तत्/आख्यातम् इति; समासः: (नित्य + नैमित्तिक) इति द्वन्द्व-समाहारार्थः, ततः आत्मक (having the nature of) इति तत्पुरुषः

Speaker

Maitreya (addressing Sage Parāśara)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: Nitya and naimittika duties for the righteous (sādhukarma-sthita)

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: reverent, disciple-like

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The disciple requests systematic instruction on obligatory (nitya) and occasional (naimittika) duties as the foundation of righteous life.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Create a personal ‘nitya/naimittika’ rule: daily practices (japa, cleanliness, study, service) and occasion-based observances (fasts, rites, charity) performed with intention rather than habit.

Vishishtadvaita: Frames duty as meaningful service (kainkarya) within Bhagavān’s order—actions become spiritually efficacious when aligned to the Lord and taught through guru-paramparā.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Sage Parāśara
• Dharma (nitya and naimittika duties)

FAQs

What is the significance of nitya and naimittika duties in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames dharma as twofold—daily, ongoing obligations (nitya) and duties triggered by specific occasions (naimittika)—setting up a practical template for righteous living within the Purana’s broader sacred history.

How does Sage Parāśara explain dharma to Maitreya in this section?

Maitreya explicitly requests a guru-like exposition, indicating a structured teaching sequence: inquiry first, then authoritative instruction on what the righteous should do as part of maintaining dharma.

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

Even when the verse focuses on duty, the Purana’s worldview treats dharma as aligned with the supreme order upheld by Vishnu; right action becomes a means of living in harmony with that sovereign cosmic reality.