Shloka 32

ध्रुवस्य निर्वेदः — मन्त्रोपदेशः (ॐ नमो वासुदेवाय) तथा विष्ण्वाराधनविधिः

Devanagari script

उत्तानपादतनयं मां निबोधत सत्तमाः जातं सुनीत्यां निर्वेदाद् युष्माकं प्राप्तम् अन्तिकम्

Transliteration

uttānapādatanayaṃ māṃ nibodhata sattamāḥ jātaṃ sunītyāṃ nirvedād yuṣmākaṃ prāptam antikam

Translation

O ihr Besten unter den Tugendhaften, erkennt mich: Ich bin der Sohn König Uttānapādas, geboren von Sunīti. Von Entsagung bewegt und mit festem Entschluss bin ich zu euch gekommen; ich erbitte eure Zuflucht und Führung.

Word by Word

• uttānapāda: Uttānapāda
• uttānapāda: Sambandha (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttānapāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; समासपूर्वपद (नाम)

• tanayam: son
• tanayam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (उत्तानपाद-तनय) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (son of Uttānapāda)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• nibodhata: know/understand (you all)
• nibodhata: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√budh (बुध्) (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• sattamāḥ: O best ones (excellent sages)
• sattamāḥ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat-tama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, बहुवचन; (सत् + तम) कर्मधारय (श्रेष्ठाः)

• jātam: born
• jātam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jan (जन्) + kta (क्त) → jāta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'mām' इत्यस्य विशेषण (born)

• sunītyām: in Sunīti (from Sunīti)
• sunītyām: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sunīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• nirvedāt: from dispassion/anguish
• nirvedāt: Apadana (Cause/Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirveda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• yuṣmākam: of you (all)
• yuṣmākam: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; स्वाम्यर्थे (possessive genitive)

• prāptam: arrived/reached
• prāptam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√āp (आप्) + kta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'mām' इत्यस्य विशेषण (having reached)

• antikam: near (your presence)
• antikam: Adhikarana (Proximity/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (as adverbial accusative: 'near')

Speaker

Dhruva (addressing the sages in the forest)

Characters & Entities

• Uttānapāda
• Sunīti
• Dhruva
• Sages (forest ascetics)

FAQs

What is the significance of Dhruva identifying himself as Uttānapāda’s son in the Vishnu Purana?

It anchors the episode within the Purana’s royal genealogies and highlights the contrast between worldly status and Dhruva’s choice to seek a higher, divine sovereignty.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame nirveda (dispassion) in Dhruva’s story?

Nirveda is presented as detachment born from lived pain—an inner turning that redirects ambition away from courtly validation toward spiritual attainment.

What theological takeaway about Lord Vishnu is implied in this context?

Dhruva’s approach to sages for guidance signals that ultimate refuge lies beyond kingship—toward Vishnu as the supreme goal who grants enduring, transcendent stability.