Shloka 84

Devanagari script

त्वम् आसीर् ब्राह्मणः पूर्वं मय्य् एकाग्रमतिः सदा मातापित्रोश् च शुश्रूषुर् निजधर्मानुपालकः

Transliteration

tvam āsīr brāhmaṇaḥ pūrvaṃ mayy ekāgramatiḥ sadā mātāpitroś ca śuśrūṣur nijadharmānupālakaḥ

Translation

Formerly, you were a brāhmaṇa—your mind always gathered into single-pointed devotion toward Me; you served your mother and father with reverence, and you steadfastly upheld your own ordained duty.

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सर्वनाम), प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• आसीः: were
• आसीः: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta-predicative (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Kala-adhikarana (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• मयि: in me; towards me
• मयि: Adhikarana (Locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्ग (सर्वनाम), सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• एकाग्रमतिः: one-pointed in mind; concentrated
• एकाग्रमतिः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः: एकाग्रा मति: (एकाग्र-मतिः)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala-adhikarana (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (always)

• मातापित्रोः: of (your) mother and father
• मातापित्रोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माता (प्रातिपदिक) + पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्ग (माता स्त्री, पितृ पुं), षष्ठी (6), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (माता च पिता च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (and)

• शुश्रूषुः: eager to serve; attentive
• शुश्रूषुः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुश्रूषु (कृदन्त; √श्रु धातु, सन्/उ-प्रत्यय; इच्छार्थक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; इच्छार्थक कृदन्त (desiderative adjective)

• निजधर्मानुपालकः: one who observes his own duties
• निजधर्मानुपालकः: Karta-predicative (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुपालक (प्रातिपदिक; √पाल् धातु, अनु- उपसर्ग, ण्वुल्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः: निजान् धर्मान् अनुपालयति इति (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः)

Speaker

Likely Lord Vishnu (as the divine authority addressing a devotee/recipient of grace) as narrated within Parasara–Maitreya dialogue

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The grounds of the Lord’s satisfaction: prior-life brahminhood, single-pointed devotion, and dharmic conduct.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Single-pointed devotion to Vishnu is strengthened, not contradicted, by faithful performance of sva-dharma and service to parents.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Integrate daily responsibilities—family care, honest work, disciplined conduct—into worship as offerings to the Lord.

Vishishtadvaita: Shows bhakti as embodied in dharmic life: the jīva’s loving dependence expresses through ordained duties, aligning conduct with devotion to the personal Brahman.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahmana
• Mother
• Father
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the significance of one-pointed devotion (ekāgratā) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents ekāgratā toward Vishnu as a defining mark of spiritual maturity—devotion that steadies the mind and makes dharma fruitful rather than merely ritual.

How does Sage Parasara explain the link between svadharma and divine grace?

Through the narrative voice of the Purana, right conduct—especially faithful adherence to one’s duty and reverence to parents—is shown as the ethical ground upon which Vishnu’s grace and recognition manifest.

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

Vishnu appears as the supreme witness and benefactor who acknowledges devotion and dharma together, reinforcing a Vaishnava view where the Supreme Reality responds to sincere bhakti expressed through righteous living.