Shloka 55

ध्रुवस्य निर्वेदः — मन्त्रोपदेशः (ॐ नमो वासुदेवाय) तथा विष्ण्वाराधनविधिः

Devanagari script

एतज् जजाप भगवान् जप्यं स्वायम्भुवो मनुः पितामहस् तव पुरा तस्य तुष्टो जनार्दनः

Transliteration

etaj jajāpa bhagavān japyaṃ svāyambhuvo manuḥ pitāmahas tava purā tasya tuṣṭo janārdanaḥ

Translation

This very sacred formula—fit to be recited as japa—was formerly repeated by the blessed Svāyambhuva Manu, your own forefather. Pleased by that devotion, Janārdana (Lord Viṣṇu) became satisfied with him.

Word by Word

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

• जजाप: recited
• जजाप: Kriyā (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्णभूत); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (he recited)

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (the Blessed Lord)

• जप्यम्: to be recited
• जप्यम्: Karma (Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप् (धातु) + यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (fit to be recited)

• स्वायम्भुवः: Svāyambhuva
• स्वायम्भुवः: Karta (Subject apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वायम्भुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषण—‘मनु’ (Svāyambhuva)

• मनुः: Manu
• मनुः: Karta (Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (Manu)

• पितामहः: the grandsire
• पितामहः: Karta (Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; उपपद/विशेषणार्थ (the grandsire/forefather)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन (of you/your)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb: formerly)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन (of him/of that)

• तुष्टः: pleased
• तुष्टः: Karta (Subject predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुष् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (pleased)

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दनः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (Janārdana)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Authority (pramāṇa) and efficacy of the japa-mantra through ancestral precedent

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Manvantara: Svayambhuva

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The mantra gains confirmed authority by being practiced by Svāyambhuva Manu, whose devotion pleased Janārdana.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Strengthen practice by anchoring it in lineage and śraddhā—repeat the mantra consistently, trusting its time-tested efficacy.

Vishishtadvaita: Divine satisfaction (prasāda) responds to personal devotion, underscoring a relational Lord who grants grace to the devotee.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: bhakti (devotional steadfastness)

Key Kings: Svāyambhuva Manu

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Janārdana (Vishnu)
• Svāyambhuva Manu

FAQs

What is the significance of japa in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents japa as a disciplined devotional act that directly pleases Janārdana, showing mantra-recitation as a means to obtain divine satisfaction and grace.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of lineage and forefathers here?

Parāśara links the teaching to ancestral precedent—Svāyambhuva Manu is called “your forefather”—to establish authority and continuity of dharma across generations and Manvantara history.

What is Lord Vishnu’s theological importance in this context?

Vishnu as Janārdana is portrayed as the Supreme Lord who is personally responsive to devotion; his satisfaction is the decisive cause behind spiritual and cosmic well-being.