Shloka 3

The Pracetās Meet Lord Viṣṇu—Benedictions, Pure Prayer, and the Birth of Dakṣa

Devanagari script

मैत्रेय उवाच प्रचेतसोऽन्तरुदधौ पितुरादेशकारिण: । जपयज्ञेन तपसा पुरञ्जनमतोषयन् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

maitreya uvāca pracetaso ’ntar udadhau pitur ādeśa-kāriṇaḥ japa-yajñena tapasā purañjanam atoṣayan

Translation

Maitreya said: The Pracetās, obeying their father’s command, performed severe austerities within the ocean. By the sacrifice of japa—repeating the mantras given by Śiva—they satisfied Purañjana, Śrī Viṣṇu, the Supreme Lord.

Synonyms

• मैत्रेयः: Maitreya
• मैत्रेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्रचेतसः: the Pracetās
• प्रचेतसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रचेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अन्तः: within
• अन्तः: Desha (देश/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपसर्गसदृश/अव्यय (adverb: within)

• उदधौ: in the ocean
• उदधौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• पितुः: of (their) father
• पितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• आदेशकारिणः: obedient to the command (doers of the order)
• आदेशकारिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदेश-कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘आदेशं करोति’ (one who carries out an आदेश/command)

• जपयज्ञेन: by the sacrifice of mantra-recitation
• जपयज्ञेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप-यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः ‘जपः एव यज्ञः’ (sacrifice consisting of japa)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुरञ्जनम्: Purañjana (the Lord)
• पुरञ्जनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विष्णोः नाम (name of the Lord)

• अतोषयन्: they pleased
• अतोषयन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-तुष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

Purport

One can offer prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly, but if one repeats the prayers offered by great devotees like Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā, or if one follows in the footsteps of great personalities, one can please the Supreme Personality of Godhead very easily. For instance, we sometimes chant this mantra of Brahma-saṁhitā (5.29) :

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Pracetās
• Purañjana

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about japa-yajna (the sacrifice of chanting)?

This verse presents japa as a true yajña: through steady mantra-recitation joined with tapasya, the Pracetās were able to satisfy the Lord.

Why did the Pracetās enter the ocean in Bhagavatam 4.30?

They did so to carry out their father’s order and to perform intense spiritual practice (tapasya and japa-yajña) for pleasing the Supreme Lord.

How can I apply the lesson of this shloka in modern life?

Follow rightful guidance with sincerity, adopt disciplined daily japa, and practice self-restraint—offering the effort as devotion meant to please the Lord.