Shloka 51

ध्रुवस्य निर्वेदः — मन्त्रोपदेशः (ॐ नमो वासुदेवाय) तथा विष्ण्वाराधनविधिः

Devanagari script

राजपुत्र यथा विष्णोर् आराधनपरैर् नरैः कार्यम् आराधनं तन् नो यथावच् छ्रोतुम् अर्हसि

Transliteration

rājaputra yathā viṣṇor ārādhanaparair naraiḥ kāryam ārādhanaṃ tan no yathāvac chrotum arhasi

Translation

O prince, you should now hear from us, in the proper and complete manner, how the worship of Lord Viṣṇu is to be performed by those whose whole intent is devoted to His adoration.

Word by Word

• राजपुत्र: O prince
• राजपुत्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (rājñaḥ putraḥ), पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचनम्

• यथा: how
• यथा: Sambandha/Adverbial (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—प्रकारवाचकं (as/how)

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचनम्

• आराधनपरैः: devoted to worship
• आराधनपरैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आराधन (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ārādhane paraḥ), पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (नरैः)

• नरैः: by men
• नरैः: Karana (करण/Agent in passive obligation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचनम्

• कार्यम्: to be done
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु √कृ)
• Form: कृदन्तः—ण्यत् (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विधेयम्

• आराधनम्: worship
• आराधनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आराधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; कर्म (object)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; यत्...तत् (correlative)

• नः: to us
• नः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी बहुवचनम् (enclitic); अत्र चतुर्थी (to us)

• यथावत्: properly
• यथावत्: Sambandha/Adverbial (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—रीत्या/सम्यक् (properly, correctly)

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitive purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु √श्रु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—तुमुन् (infinitive), श्रवणार्थे (purpose: ‘to hear’)

• अर्हसि: you are fit / you should
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु √अर्ह्)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya, addressing him as ‘rājaputra’ in the narrative style)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Those intent solely on Viṣṇu’s worship should learn the correct procedure by attentive listening (śravaṇa) to competent teachers.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice ‘śravaṇa’ deliberately—set aside time to hear/learn liturgy and theology before attempting advanced worship routines.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti begins with śravaṇa and obedient receptivity, aligning the finite self’s agency to the Lord through prescribed means.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Dasya (servant)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu’s ārādhana (worship) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Viṣṇu-worship as a taught, methodical discipline—something to be heard “properly” (yathāvat)—implying that devotion is both heartfelt and guided by dharmic procedure.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the practice of devotion in this chapter’s dialogue structure?

Parāśara positions himself as the authoritative instructor and invites the listener to receive a complete account of the correct worship-method, signaling a step-by-step exposition that follows in the subsequent verses.

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

Viṣṇu is presented as the supreme focus of worship—worthy of exclusive dedication—supporting the Purāṇa’s Vaishnava vision of the Supreme Lord as the ground of order, dharma, and liberation-oriented devotion.