Shloka 45

ध्रुवस्य निर्वेदः — मन्त्रोपदेशः (ॐ नमो वासुदेवाय) तथा विष्ण्वाराधनविधिः

Devanagari script

परं ब्रह्म परं धाम यो ऽसौ ब्रह्म तथा परम् तम् आराध्य हरिं याति मुक्तिम् अप्य् अतिदुर्लभाम्

Transliteration

paraṃ brahma paraṃ dhāma yo 'sau brahma tathā param tam ārādhya hariṃ yāti muktim apy atidurlabhām

Translation

He is the Supreme Brahman, the highest abode—Brahman, and yet transcending even that. By worshipping that Hari one attains liberation, though it is exceedingly difficult to obtain.

Word by Word

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (neut. nom./acc. sg.)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Pratijna/Predicate (प्रतिज्ञा/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (neut. nom./acc. sg.)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (neut. nom./acc. sg.)

• धाम: abode, splendor
• धाम: Pratijna/Predicate (प्रतिज्ञा/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (neut. nom./acc. sg.)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc., nominative sg., relative pronoun)

• असौ: that (one)
• असौ: Karta (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masc., nominative sg., demonstrative 'that')

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Pratijna/Predicate (प्रतिज्ञा/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (neut. nom./acc. sg.)

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: 'thus/also')

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (neut. nom./acc. sg.)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (masc., accusative sg.)

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (having worshipped)

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (masc., accusative sg.)

• याति: goes, attains
• याति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (present indicative, 3rd sg.)

• मुक्तिम्: liberation
• मुक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (fem., accusative sg.)

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; 'also/even')

• अतिदुर्लभाम्: extremely hard to obtain
• अतिदुर्लभाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय-पूर्वपद) + दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (अति + दुर्लभ); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (fem., accusative sg.)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Identification of Hari as para-brahma/para-dhāma and the means to rare liberation

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hari is the Supreme Brahman and highest abode; worship of Him grants even the exceedingly rare liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Center spiritual practice on personal devotion to Hari while grounding it in contemplation of His supremacy beyond all categories.

Vishishtadvaita: Brahman is personal (Hari) and the supreme abode; mokṣa is relational nearness/service to Him, not mere impersonal absorption.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of calling Hari both “Para Brahman” and “Para Dhama” in the Vishnu Purana?

It identifies Vishnu (Hari) as not merely an abstract absolute, but the Supreme Reality who is also the highest refuge/abode—making devotion and surrender to a personal Supreme central to the text’s theology.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the path to moksha in this passage?

Parāśara presents ārādhana (devotional worship/propitiation) of Hari as the direct means, emphasizing that liberation is rare and difficult, yet attainable through exclusive devotion to the Supreme.

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

Vishnu is affirmed as the transcendent Supreme (beyond all) and the ultimate goal; worship of Him is portrayed as the decisive cause for attaining moksha, aligning the Purana with Vaishnava Vedantic thought.