Shloka 38

ध्रुवस्य तपः — देवमायाविघ्नाः, विष्णोर्दर्शनम्, स्तुतिः, ध्रुवस्थानप्रदानम्

Devanagari script

नेन्द्रत्वं न च सूर्यत्वं नैवाम्बुपधनेशताम् प्रार्थयत्य् एष यं कामं तं करोम्य् अखिलं सुराः

Transliteration

nendratvaṃ na ca sūryatvaṃ naivāmbupadhaneśatām prārthayaty eṣa yaṃ kāmaṃ taṃ karomy akhilaṃ surāḥ

Translation

He asks neither Indra’s sovereignty nor the station of the Sun, nor even lordship over the ocean and its hidden treasures. Whatever desire he seeks, that I shall grant in full—O gods.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation marker/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• इन्द्रत्वम्: Indra-hood/sovereignty of Indra
• इन्द्रत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), भाववाचक-तद्धित (state/office)

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (Negation marker/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सूर्यत्वम्: Sun-hood/status of the Sun
• सूर्यत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), भाववाचक-तद्धित

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation marker/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• एव: indeed/even
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अम्बुपधनेशताम्: lordship over the waters (Varuṇa’s sovereignty)
• अम्बुपधनेशताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + पधन (प्रातिपदिक) + ईशता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘अम्बुपधनस्य ईशता’ = lordship of Varuṇa/sea), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रार्थयति: asks for/desires
• प्रार्थयति: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्थ् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• एष: this one/he (Dhruva)
• एष: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम

• यम्: which/whatever
• यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (relative)

• कामम्: wish/boon
• कामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (correlative)

• करोमि: I do/fulfil
• करोमि: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• अखिलम्: entire/complete
• अखिलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), विशेषण (qualifies ‘तम्/कामम्’ as ‘entirely’)

• सुराः: O gods
• सुराः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन/प्रथमा (Vocative or Nominative; here address), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

A presiding divine authority addressing the assembly of devas (surāḥ) within Parasara’s narration to Maitreya

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Bhagavān’s response regarding Dhruva’s desire and the devas’ fear.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly cosmic rulerships are limited attainments; the Lord alone can bestow any sought end, responding to the devotee’s intention.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Examine what you truly seek—status or the Highest—and align desires toward enduring spiritual aims.

Vishishtadvaita: Vishnu as both upādāna and nimitta (jagat-kāraṇa) is implied by His unrestricted capacity to grant all ends across cosmic hierarchies.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Surya (the Sun-god)
• Devas (Surāḥ)
• Ocean (Ambu)

FAQs

What is the significance of not asking for Indrahood or Sunhood in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights that the highest spiritual aim is not celestial status or administrative power within the cosmos, but a boon aligned with devotion and dharma—surpassing even the greatest cosmic offices.

How does Sage Parasara explain the granting of boons in this narrative setting?

Within Parasara’s narration to Maitreya, divine authorities publicly affirm that a worthy devotee’s request will be fulfilled completely, emphasizing that divine favor responds to inner intent rather than mere ambition for rank.

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

Even when specific gods (like Indra or Surya) are named, the verse points to a larger Vaishnava framework where all cosmic roles are subordinate to the Supreme order upheld by Vishnu; true fulfillment is ultimately grounded in that higher sovereignty.