Shloka 42

Devanagari script

औत्तानपादे भद्रं ते तपसा परितोषितः वरदो ऽहम् अनुप्राप्तो वरं वरय सुव्रत

Transliteration

auttānapāde bhadraṃ te tapasā paritoṣitaḥ varado 'ham anuprāpto varaṃ varaya suvrata

Translation

O son of Uttānapāda, blessings be upon you. Pleased by your austerities, I have come as the bestower of boons. O steadfast in sacred vows—choose the boon you desire.

Word by Word

• auttānapāde: O Uttānapāda
• auttānapāde: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: auttānapāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• bhadram: auspiciousness; good fortune
• bhadram: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Neuter, Nominative, Singular (आशीर्वादार्थे)

• te: to you/for you (your)
• te: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन — Genitive, Singular (enclitic)

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन — Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• paritoṣitaḥ: pleased; satisfied
• paritoṣitaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari√tuṣ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Past passive participle; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• varadaḥ: giver of boons
• varadaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara + da (प्रातिपदिक; दा-धात्वर्थ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वरं ददाति इति), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Nominative, Singular

• anuprāptaḥ: arrived; come
• anuprāptaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu√prāp (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Past participle; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• varam: a boon
• varam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• varaya: choose; ask for
• varaya: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛ (वृञ् वरणे धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Imperative, 2nd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• suvrata: O one of good vows
• suvrata: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सु- व्रतं यस्य/सु-व्रतः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन — Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (appearing before Dhruva)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Dhruva’s tapas and the Lord’s direct favor toward a devotee.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When austerity is offered with sincerity, the Lord personally responds as the giver of grace and boons.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Align discipline and spiritual practice with a clear devotional intention rather than mere worldly gain.

Vishishtadvaita: The personal Lord freely bestows grace to the individual self, affirming real distinction-in-relation between jīva and Īśvara.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Steadfastness in vrata (suvrata) and tapas

Key Kings: Uttānapāda, Dhruva

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Uttanapada
• Dhruva

FAQs

What is the significance of tapas (austerity) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse shows tapas as a disciplined, vow-based practice that can culminate in Vishnu’s direct presence and grace, emphasizing spiritual merit aligned with dharma.

How does Sage Parasara explain the devotee’s relationship with Vishnu in the Dhruva episode?

Through the narrative frame, Parasara presents Vishnu as personally responsive to sincere devotion and austerity—appearing, blessing, and inviting the devotee to state their desired aim.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is portrayed as the supreme, sovereign giver of results (varada), whose satisfaction and grace—not mere ritual—become the decisive cause of fulfillment.