Shloka 50

ध्रुवस्य तपः — देवमायाविघ्नाः, विष्णोर्दर्शनम्, स्तुतिः, ध्रुवस्थानप्रदानम्

Devanagari script

त्वद्भक्तिप्रवणं ह्य् एतत् परमेश्वर मे मनः स्तोतुं प्रवृत्तं त्वत्पादौ तत्र प्रज्ञां प्रयच्छ मे

Transliteration

tvadbhaktipravaṇaṃ hy etat parameśvara me manaḥ stotuṃ pravṛttaṃ tvatpādau tatra prajñāṃ prayaccha me

Translation

O Supreme Lord, my mind is inclined toward devotion to You; it has set itself to praise Your feet. Therefore grant me the true understanding by which I may hymn You rightly.

Word by Word

• त्वद्भक्तिप्रवणम्: inclined to devotion to you
• त्वद्भक्तिप्रवणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वद् (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (त्वद्-भक्ति-प्रवण = devoted/leaning towards devotion to you); विशेषण (मनः इति)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/अवधारणार्थ (indeed/for)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परमेश्वर: O Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (enclitic)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• स्तोतुम्: to praise
• स्तोतुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ

• प्रवृत्तम्: engaged/turned toward
• प्रवृत्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-वृत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण (मनः इति)

• त्वत्पादौ: your two feet
• त्वत्पादौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (your feet)

• तत्र: there/therein
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there/therein)

• प्रज्ञाम्: wisdom/understanding
• प्रज्ञाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• प्रयच्छ: grant
• प्रयच्छ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-यम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (enclitic)

Speaker

A devotee-supplicant voice within the Vishnu Purana’s prayerful narration (framed in the Parasara–Maitreya discourse)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True praise arises from bhakti oriented to the Lord’s feet, but requires divinely granted prajñā (right insight) rather than mere eloquence.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Combine devotion with prayer for discernment—seek inner clarity to worship rightly, not just emotional intensity.

Vishishtadvaita: Highlights grace-bestowed knowledge in service of bhakti: the Lord within (antaryāmin) empowers the jīva to know and praise Him.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of praying for prajñā (wisdom) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents devotion as sincere but incomplete without divine-bestowed discernment; the devotee asks Vishnu to grant the understanding needed to praise Him rightly.

How does Sage Parasara explain devotion and knowledge working together?

Within the Parasara–Maitreya narrative frame, devotion turns the mind toward Vishnu, while true articulation and realization require the Lord’s grace as prajñā—showing bhakti supported by enlightened insight.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu is addressed as Parameśvara, the Supreme who not only receives praise but also empowers the devotee’s intellect—affirming His sovereignty over both devotion and knowledge.