Shloka 38

कलौ धर्मसुलभता — व्यासोपाख्यानम् एवं संकीर्तन-प्रधानता

Devanagari script

ततः संपूज्य ते व्यासं प्रशशंसुः पुनः पुनः यथागतं द्विजा जग्मुर् व्यासोक्तिक्षतसंशयाः

Transliteration

tataḥ saṃpūjya te vyāsaṃ praśaśaṃsuḥ punaḥ punaḥ yathāgataṃ dvijā jagmur vyāsoktikṣatasaṃśayāḥ

Translation

ثم إنهم أكرموا فياسا إكرامًا لائقًا وأثنوا عليه مرارًا؛ وبعد أن قطعت كلماتُ فياسا شكوكَهم، انصرف أولئك ذوو الميلادين عائدين كلٌّ إلى مقامه.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• संपूज्य: having duly honored
• संपूज्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-√पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund): 'having worshipped'

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Nominative plural: 'they')

• व्यासम्: Vyāsa
• व्यासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• प्रशशंसुः: praised
• प्रशशंसुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (they praised)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: again)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (repetition for emphasis)

• यथागतम्: as before, as they had come
• यथागतम्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + आगत (कृदन्त; आ-√गम् धातु, क्त)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (as they had come / as before)

• द्विजाः: the twice-born (brahmins etc.)
• द्विजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• जग्मुः: went
• जग्मुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (they went)

• व्यासोक्तिक्षतसंशयाः: whose doubts were dispelled by Vyāsa’s words
• व्यासोक्तिक्षतसंशयाः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षत (कृदन्त; √क्षन्/क्षद्? 'to wound/destroy', क्त) + संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (व्यासस्य उक्तिः = व्यासोक्तिः; तया क्षताः/नष्टाः संशयाः यस्य ते) विशेषणम् द्विजाः इत्यस्य

Speaker

Sūta (narratorial voice) describing the sages’ response after Vyāsa’s discourse (frame-narration)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right teaching (śāstra transmitted by a realized teacher) removes doubt, leading to settled understanding and peaceful return to one’s duties.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Seek reliable instruction, then verify by consistent practice; let clarity reduce anxiety and indecision rather than fueling argumentation.

Vishishtadvaita: Epistemic dependence on trustworthy guru-śāstra is affirmed; knowledge that ‘cuts doubt’ supports prapatti/bhakti grounded in Vishnu-centered revelation.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Dvijas (twice-born sages)

FAQs

What is the significance of doubts being ‘cut’ by Vyāsa’s words in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights saṃśaya-nivṛtti: authentic instruction from an authoritative teacher resolves spiritual uncertainty and restores clarity about dharma and the Vishnu-centered worldview.

How does the Vishnu Purana portray the role of Vyāsa in transmitting sacred knowledge?

Vyāsa is presented as a decisive transmitter whose teaching is not merely informative but transformative—leading listeners from questioning to settled understanding within the tradition.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context even though the verse mentions Vyāsa?

Vyāsa’s authority functions as a conduit for Vishnu-dharma: the text implies that certainty and order arise when the tradition’s teaching—ultimately oriented to Vishnu as Supreme Reality—is properly received.