Shloka 96

Devanagari script

एवं पूर्वं जगन्नाथाद् देवदेवाज् जनार्दनात् वरं प्राप्य ध्रुवं स्थानम् अध्यास्ते स महामतिः

Transliteration

evaṃ pūrvaṃ jagannāthād devadevāj janārdanāt varaṃ prāpya dhruvaṃ sthānam adhyāste sa mahāmatiḥ

Translation

Thus, long ago, having received a boon from Janārdana—the Lord of the universe, the God of gods—that great-souled Dhruva attained the steadfast station called “Dhruva,” and even now abides enthroned in that immutable realm.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (manner adverb: thus)

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (time adverb: formerly)

• जगन्नाथात्: from the Lord of the world
• जगन्नाथात्: Apadana (Source/अपाादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (जगतः नाथः)

• देवदेवात्: from the God of gods
• देवदेवात्: Apadana (Source/अपाादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (देवानां देवः)

• जनार्दनात्: from Janārdana
• जनार्दनात्: Apadana (Source/अपाादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having obtained’

• ध्रुवम्: fixed, permanent
• ध्रुवम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘स्थानम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• स्थानम्: station, abode
• स्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अध्यास्ते: dwells upon, occupies
• अध्यास्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महामतिः: the great-minded one
• महामतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महती मतिः यस्य)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord of the universe grants an enduring, ‘dhruva’ (unshakable) state to the great-souled devotee by boon and grace.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Anchor life in a steady spiritual vow; measure progress by inner stability rather than external fluctuation.

Vishishtadvaita: Personal Lord (Jagannātha/Janārdana) as bestower of real, lasting states; the jīva remains dependent yet exalted by His grace.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Janardana)
• Jagannatha
• Devadeva
• Dhruva

FAQs

What is the significance of Dhruva-sthāna in the Vishnu Purana?

It represents an unshakable cosmic station granted by Vishnu, symbolizing both universal order and the permanence of divine reward for steadfast devotion.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Dhruva’s attainment of an eternal position?

Parāśara frames it as the direct result of a boon from Janārdana, emphasizing Vishnu’s authority to confer enduring cosmic roles beyond ordinary celestial attainments.

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

Vishnu is presented as Jagannātha and Devadeva—the supreme ruler whose will establishes stable cosmic hierarchy, making Dhruva’s permanence a sign of Vishnu’s ultimate sovereignty.