Shloka 36

ध्रुवस्य तपः — देवमायाविघ्नाः, विष्णोर्दर्शनम्, स्तुतिः, ध्रुवस्थानप्रदानम्

Devanagari script

न विद्मः किं स शक्रत्वं किं सूर्यत्वम् अभीप्सति वित्तपाम्बुपसोमानां साभिलाषः पदेषु किम्

Transliteration

na vidmaḥ kiṃ sa śakratvaṃ kiṃ sūryatvam abhīpsati vittapāmbupasomānāṃ sābhilāṣaḥ padeṣu kim

Translation

We do not know what he truly seeks—Indra’s lordship or the Sun’s radiant sovereignty. What longing could he have for such posts, coveted by those who thirst for wealth, water, and even Soma?

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Kriya-nishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (negation particle)

• विद्मः: we know
• विद्मः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present) उत्तमपुरुष बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचनम्; प्रश्नार्थक-सर्वनाम

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• शक्रत्वम्: Indra-hood
• शक्रत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचनम्; भाववाचक-तद्धितान्त (state of being Indra)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचनम्; प्रश्नार्थक

• सूर्यत्वम्: sun-hood
• सूर्यत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचनम्; भाववाचक-तद्धितान्त (state of being the sun)

• अभीप्सति: desires
• अभीप्सति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-ईप्स् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present) प्रथमपुरुष एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• वित्तपाम्बुपसोमानाम्: of the trees, water-drinkers, and soma (plants/creepers)
• वित्तपाम्बुपसोमानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्तप (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुप (प्रातिपदिक) + सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः (वित्तपाः च अम्बुपाः च सोमाः च); पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) बहुवचनम्

• स-अभिलाषः: desire/longing (with regard)
• स-अभिलाषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत् ‘with’) + अभिलाष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (सहितार्थे: अभिलाषः सह → साभिलाषः); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• पदेषु: in (those) positions/statuses
• पदेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/Locative) बहुवचनम्

• किम्: what? (why/what is it?)
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; प्रश्नार्थक

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The devas’ uncertainty about what office Dhruva seeks (Indrahood, Sun-sovereignty, etc.)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: clarifying

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Positions like Indrahood or Sun-sovereignty are coveted by materially driven beings, yet their desirability is questionable from a higher spiritual standpoint.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Examine ambition: prefer inner transformation and devotion over status, power, or ‘spiritual careerism.’

Vishishtadvaita: Implied hierarchy: even the highest offices within saṃsāra are finite; true fulfillment lies in relation to the Supreme Person rather than cosmic posts.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Surya (Sun)
• Soma

FAQs

What is the significance of Indra and Surya posts in the Vishnu Purana?

They represent the highest forms of worldly and heavenly sovereignty, yet the verse implies such stations are still objects of desire and therefore not the ultimate aim.

How does Sage Parāśara explain desire for power in this context?

He frames heavenly offices as “posts” coveted by those driven by cravings (for wealth, sustenance, and Soma), highlighting the contrast between desire-based ambition and a higher, dharmic or spiritual aim.

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

By diminishing the final value of even Indra-hood and Sun-hood, the narrative implicitly points beyond temporary cosmic roles toward the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—as the only truly enduring refuge and goal.