Shloka 20

मैत्रेयप्रश्नः—पुराणसंहिताप्रतिज्ञा च

Maitreya’s Questions and Parāśara’s Resolve to Teach

Devanagari script

अलं निशाचरैर् दग्धैर् दीनैर् अनपराधिभिः सत्रं ते विरमत्व् एतत् क्षमासारा हि साधवः

Transliteration

alaṃ niśācarair dagdhair dīnair anaparādhibhiḥ satraṃ te viramatv etat kṣamāsārā hi sādhavaḥ

Translation

Enough—let this rite of yours cease. These night‑rangers stand before you scorched and wretched, yet guiltless; for the truly good are fashioned of forbearance, and forgiveness is their very essence.

Word by Word

• अलम्: enough
• अलम्: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पर्याप्त्यर्थक-निपात (particle 'enough')

• निशाचरैः: by night-roamers (rākṣasas)
• निशाचरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा-चर (प्रातिपदिक; निशा + चर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (निशायां चरन्ति)

• दग्धैः: burnt
• दग्धैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (निशाचरैः)

• दीनैः: wretched
• दीनैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (निशाचरैः)

• अनपराधिभिः: innocent; not at fault
• अनपराधिभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन-अप-राधिन् (प्रातिपदिक; अन् + अपराधिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः (अपराधी न) विशेषणम् (निशाचरैः)

• सत्रम्: the sacrificial session
• सत्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विरमतु: let it cease
• विरमतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-रम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Anuyogi (Apposition/अनुयोगी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सत्रम् इत्यस्य निर्देशः

• क्षमासाराः: having forgiveness as their essence
• क्षमासाराः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षमा-सार (प्रातिपदिक; क्षमा + सार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्षमायाः सारः येषाम्) विशेषणम् (साधवः)

• हि: for
• हि: Sambandha (Reason marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक-निपात (particle 'for/indeed')

• साधवः: the good (saints)
• साधवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Uncertain from the isolated verse (likely a compassionate admonition within the Parāśara–Maitreya narrative frame of Ansha 1).

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The dharma of the sādhus: cessation of harmful rites and the primacy of forgiveness toward the guiltless and suffering.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True goodness is defined by kṣamā; therefore, one should stop punitive action against the innocent and let compassion prevail.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Choose restorative responses over retribution; protect the vulnerable, and make forgiveness a deliberate daily practice.

Vishishtadvaita: Sādhutva as kṣamā aligns with bhakti: the devotee mirrors the Lord’s protective mercy (rakṣakatva) toward all beings as His body (śarīra).

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Niśācara (night-rangers/Rākṣasas)
• Sādhus (the virtuous)

FAQs

What is the significance of kṣamā (forgiveness) in this Vishnu Purana verse?

The verse defines true goodness (sādhutva) by kṣamā: the virtuous restrain punishment and choose mercy, especially when the afflicted are innocent.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame ritual action (satra) in relation to dharma here?

It implies that ritual power must be governed by ethical discernment—an extended sacrifice should be halted if it harms the guiltless.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇa’s Vaishnava ethic presents dharma—especially compassion and restraint—as aligned with the supreme order upheld by Vishnu.