Shloka 51

ध्रुवस्य तपः — देवमायाविघ्नाः, विष्णोर्दर्शनम्, स्तुतिः, ध्रुवस्थानप्रदानम्

Devanagari script

शङ्खप्रान्तेन गोविन्दस् तं पस्पर्श कृताञ्जलिम् उत्तानपादतनयं द्विजवर्य जगत्पतिः

Transliteration

śaṅkhaprāntena govindas taṃ pasparśa kṛtāñjalim uttānapādatanayaṃ dvijavarya jagatpatiḥ

Translation

Then Govinda—the Lord of the worlds—O best of the twice-born, touched with the tip of His conch the son of Uttānapāda, who stood with folded hands.

Word by Word

• शङ्खप्रान्तेन: with the edge of the conch
• शङ्खप्रान्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शङ्खस्य प्रान्तः = edge of the conch)

• गोविन्दः: Govinda
• गोविन्दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पस्पर्श: touched
• पस्पर्श: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• कृताञ्जलिम्: with folded hands
• कृताञ्जलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु + क्त, कृदन्त) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कृतः अञ्जलिः येन = with hands joined); विशेषण (तम् इति)

• उत्तानपादतनयम्: the son of Uttānapāda
• उत्तानपादतनयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तानपाद (प्रातिपदिक) + तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (उत्तानपादस्य तनयः = son of Uttānapāda)

• द्विजवर्य: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजवर्य: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• जगत्पतिः: the Lord of the world
• जगत्पतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (जगतः पतिः = lord of the world)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord of the worlds responds tangibly to sincere devotion, conferring empowerment through a direct sign of grace (anugraha).

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: In practice, treat devotional disciplines as relationship: sincerity invites transformation; remain receptive to subtle ‘touches’ of grace—clarity, steadiness, compassion.

Vishishtadvaita: Personal Lord (saguṇa) freely bestows grace; the jīva’s dependence is met by the Lord’s intimate accessibility without compromising transcendence.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Vamsha: Surya

Dharma Exemplar: Bhakti (steadfast devotion)

Key Kings: Uttanapada

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Govinda)
• Dhruva
• Uttānapāda
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu touching Dhruva with the conch in the Vishnu Purana?

It signifies direct divine sanction and transformative grace—Vishnu’s sovereignty (Jagatpati) confers spiritual elevation and legitimacy upon the devoted prince.

How does Sage Parāśara frame this moment in the dialogue with Maitreya?

Parāśara narrates it as an authoritative, eyewitness-like sacred history, addressing Maitreya as “dvijavarya,” and highlighting devotion (kṛtāñjali) as the immediate context for divine response.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is presented as Govinda and Jagatpati—the Supreme Lord whose personal, intentional act of grace bridges cosmic sovereignty and intimate devotion, aligning with core Vaishnava philosophical emphases.