Shloka 53

Devanagari script

एवम् एकाग्रचित्तेन तन्मयेन धृतात्मना जप्तव्यं यन् निबोधैतत् तन् नः पार्थिवनन्दन

Transliteration

evam ekāgracittena tanmayena dhṛtātmanā japtavyaṃ yan nibodhaitat tan naḥ pārthivanandana

Translation

Thus, with the mind made one-pointed, wholly absorbed in That Supreme Reality, and the self held steady in discipline—O delight of kings, understand what is to be recited as japa.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner: “thus/in this way”)

• एकाग्रचित्तेन: with one-pointed mind
• एकाग्रचित्तेन: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाग्र-चित्त (प्रातिपदिक; एकाग्र + चित्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषण—‘चित्त’स्य (instrumental: “with a one-pointed mind”)

• तन्मयेन: absorbed in That
• तन्मयेन: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तन्मय (प्रातिपदिक; तत् + मय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषण—‘चित्त’/‘आत्मन्’ (absorbed in That)

• धृतात्मना: with restrained self
• धृतात्मना: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृत-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; धृ (धातु) + क्त + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति; एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त विशेषण (having controlled/steadied the self)

• जप्तव्यम्: should be recited
• जप्तव्यम्: Karma (Object to be done)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; विधेयकृदन्त (gerundive/obligative: “is to be recited”)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun: “which”)

• निबोध: understand, learn
• निबोध: Kriyā (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थक); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (imperative: “understand/learn”)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; निर्देशार्थ सर्वनाम (this)

• तत्: that (mantra/teaching)
• तत्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; निर्देशार्थ सर्वनाम (that/it)

• नः: of us, our
• नः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति; बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (genitive plural: “of us/our”)

• पार्थिवनन्दन: O son of the king
• पार्थिवनन्दन: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव-नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक; पार्थिव + नन्दन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (vocative); एकवचन; संबोधनपद (O son of the king)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching in dialogue form, traditionally to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Method and content of japa/recitation directed to the Supreme Reality

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Japa should be performed with one-pointed mind, absorption in the Supreme, and disciplined steadiness of self.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Set a daily mantra practice with focused attention, minimizing distractions and cultivating inner recollection.

Vishishtadvaita: Meditative absorption is directed to the personal Supreme (Vishnu) who is the object of devotion and realization, not an impersonal void.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahman
• Kings

FAQs

What is the significance of one-pointedness (ekāgratā) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames ekāgratā as the essential condition for effective japa—devotion becomes transformative when the mind is undistracted and steady.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the proper approach to japa here?

He emphasizes inner qualification: the practitioner should be absorbed in the Supreme (tanmaya) and self-controlled (dhṛtātman) before being taught what is to be recited.

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

The phrase tanmaya points to the Supreme Reality—understood in Vaishnava reading as Vishnu—showing japa as remembrance that culminates in absorption in Him.