Shloka 6

Puṁsavana / Viṣṇu-vrata: Worship of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa for Auspicious Progeny and Fortune

Devanagari script

विष्णुपत्नि महामाये महापुरुषलक्षणे । प्रीयेथा मे महाभागे लोकमातर्नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

viṣṇu-patni mahā-māye mahāpuruṣa-lakṣaṇe prīyethā me mahā-bhāge loka-mātar namo ’stu te

Translation

O Gemahlin Viṣṇus, Mahāmāyā, du, die die Kennzeichen des Mahāpuruṣa trägt! O Hochbegnadete, sei mir gnädig und wohlgesinnt. O Mutter der Welt, ich erweise dir ehrerbietige Verneigungen.

Synonyms

• विष्णु-पत्नी: O wife of Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-पत्नी: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (विष्णोः पत्नी)

• महा-माये: O great Māyā
• महा-माये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महती माया)

• महा-पुरुष-लक्षणे: O one characterized by the Supreme Person
• महा-पुरुष-लक्षणे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + पुरुष + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (महापुरुषस्य लक्षणम्/स्वभावः यस्याः)

• प्रीयेथाः: may you be pleased
• प्रीयेथाः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्री (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• मे: of me; my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; enclitic

• महा-भागे: O greatly fortunate one
• महा-भागे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् भागः यस्याः)

• लोक-मातर्: O mother of the world
• लोक-मातर्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य माता)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय (salutation particle)

• अस्तु: let it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; enclitic

Purport

The Lord has multifarious potencies ( parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate ). Since mother Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, is the Lord’s very precious potency, she is addressed here as mahā-māye. The word māyā means śakti. Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme, cannot exhibit His power everywhere without His principal energy. It is said, śakti śaktimān abheda: the power and the powerful are identical. Therefore mother Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, is the constant companion of Lord Viṣṇu; they remain together constantly. One cannot keep Lakṣmī in one’s home without Lord Viṣṇu. To think that one can do so is very dangerous. To keep Lakṣmī, or the riches of the Lord, without the service of the Lord is always dangerous, for then Lakṣmī becomes the illusory energy. With Lord Viṣṇu, however, Lakṣmī is the spiritual energy.

Characters & Entities

• Diti
• Vishnu
• Lakshmi (Vishnu-patni, Mahamaya, Loka-mata)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about praying to Lakshmi (Vishnu-patni)?

This verse shows Diti offering reverent prayers to Viṣṇu’s consort, praising her as the divine potency and mother of the worlds, and seeking her pleasure and protection through humble obeisances.

Why did Diti say this prayer to Vishnu-patni in Canto 6 Chapter 19?

In the context of the Puṁsavana observance, Diti worships the Lord’s divine energy to obtain auspiciousness and purification, approaching with humility and devotion so that her purpose may be sanctified.

Practical application of surrender and reverence in modern life?

Begin spiritual practice with humility—offer respect, acknowledge divine guidance, and seek inner purification before pursuing goals, so desires become aligned with dharma rather than ego.