Shloka 20

भार्गवसर्गः, ऋषिवंशाः, वह्नयः (अग्निवंशः), पितृसृष्टिः

Devanagari script

उत्तमज्ञानसंपन्ने सर्वैः समुदितैर् गुणैः

Transliteration

uttamajñānasaṃpanne sarvaiḥ samuditair guṇaiḥ

Translation

They were endowed with the highest wisdom, and perfected by the complete assembly of every virtue.

Word by Word

• उत्तमज्ञानसंपन्ने: endowed with excellent knowledge
• उत्तमज्ञानसंपन्ने: Visheshana (Qualifier of the two women)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम + ज्ञान + संपन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन (dual) — विशेषण; तत्पुरुष-समासः (उत्तमं ज्ञानं यस्य/यत्र तत्) + संपन्न (युक्त)

• सर्वैः: with all
• सर्वैः: Visheshana (Qualifier of गुणैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural) — विशेषण

• समुदितैः: combined/assembled
• समुदितैः: Visheshana (Qualifier of गुणैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उदि + त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural) — भूतकृदन्त (क्त) विशेषण

• गुणैः: qualities
• गुणैः: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; exact addressee not explicit from the single pāda provided)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Qualities of Dakṣa’s daughters described as brahmavādinīs/yoginīs.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Highest wisdom (uttama-jñāna) naturally culminates in the full flowering of virtues (guṇa-samudaya).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Pair scriptural study and reflection with deliberate cultivation of ethical habits (truthfulness, restraint, compassion).

Vishishtadvaita: Knowledge is not abstract; in a Viśiṣṭādvaita ethos it ripens into guṇas expressed through embodied conduct in service-oriented life.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of “uttama-jñāna” (highest knowledge) in the Vishnu Purana?

This line highlights that true greatness is measured by supreme, clarifying wisdom—knowledge that aligns the being with dharma and the cosmic order upheld by Vishnu.

How does Sage Parāśara explain spiritual excellence through “guṇaiḥ samuditaiḥ”?

By describing virtues as “fully gathered,” the verse implies completeness: not a single isolated merit, but a harmonized totality of qualities that marks an ideal, dharmic person.

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

Even when the verse praises an individual, the Purāṇic framework treats perfected wisdom and virtues as reflections of Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty—the standard by which all excellence is understood.