Shloka 23

ध्रुवस्य निर्वेदः — मन्त्रोपदेशः (ॐ नमो वासुदेवाय) तथा विष्ण्वाराधनविधिः

Devanagari script

सुशीलो भव धर्मात्मा मैत्रः प्राणिहिते रतः निम्नं यथापः प्रवणाः पात्रम् आयान्ति संपदः

Transliteration

suśīlo bhava dharmātmā maitraḥ prāṇihite rataḥ nimnaṃ yathāpaḥ pravaṇāḥ pātram āyānti saṃpadaḥ

Translation

Be of noble conduct, righteous at heart, friendly, and devoted to the welfare of all beings. As waters naturally flow to low ground, so prosperities of themselves come to the worthy vessel.

Word by Word

• सुशीलः: of good conduct
• सुशीलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुशील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• भव: be
• भव: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled
• धर्मात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य आत्मा)

• मैत्रः: friendly
• मैत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मैत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्राणिहिते: in the welfare of living beings
• प्राणिहिते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणि-हित (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्राणिनां हितम्)

• रतः: engaged, devoted
• रतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (कृदन्त; √रम् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृत्/क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• निम्नम्: a low place, depression
• निम्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म (goal/object)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा/यथार्थबोधक (comparative particle: 'just as')

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्ता

• प्रवणाः: sloping, inclined
• प्रवणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with आपः by sense)

• पात्रम्: a vessel, receptacle
• पात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म (destination/object)

• आयान्ति: come, arrive
• आयान्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• संपदः: prosperities, fortunes
• संपदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्ता

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya, within a dharma-oriented teaching section)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prosperity naturally accrues to one whose character is noble, righteous, friendly, and devoted to the welfare of all beings, just as water flows to low ground.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate integrity, kindness, and service-mindedness; treat success as an effect of inner fitness rather than mere acquisition.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma expressed as compassion to all beings aligns with seeing all jīvas as belonging to (śeṣa of) the Lord, making universal welfare a form of God-centered conduct.

FAQs

What is the significance of good conduct (suśīla) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats good character and inner righteousness as the “vessel” that naturally attracts well-being—prosperity is portrayed as a consequence of dharma rather than mere chance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the connection between compassion and prosperity?

By urging devotion to the welfare of all beings (prāṇihite rataḥ) and comparing prosperity to water that flows downward, Parāśara frames compassion and friendliness as the natural conditions that draw blessings.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the teaching reflects Vaishnava cosmology: dharma sustains the order governed by the Supreme, and aligning one’s life with that order is the path to harmony and fulfillment.