Shloka 54

Devanagari script

ततस् ताव् ऊचतुर् विप्रान् सर्वान् एव कृताञ्जली अद्यजातस्य नो कर्म ज्ञायते ऽस्य महीपतेः

Transliteration

tatas tāv ūcatur viprān sarvān eva kṛtāñjalī adyajātasya no karma jñāyate 'sya mahīpateḥ

Translation

Then the two of them, with palms joined in reverence, addressed all the Brahmin sages: “We do not yet know what sacred duty and rite should be performed for this king’s child, born only today.”

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: देश/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thereafter)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन (masc. nom. du.)

• ऊचतुः: said
• ऊचतुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपदम् (perf. 3rd du.)

• विप्रान्: to the Brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; कर्म (acc. pl.)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (masc. acc. pl.)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• कृताञ्जली: with folded hands
• कृताञ्जली: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु-निष्पन्न, क्त) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (masc. nom. du.; ‘with hands folded’)

• अद्यजातस्य: of the newly born
• अद्यजातस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय) + जात (जन् धातु-निष्पन्न, क्त; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (gen. sg.; ‘born today/newly born’)

• नः: of us / to us
• नः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (gen. pl.; enclitic)

• कर्म: deed, action (nature)
• कर्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (neut. nom. sg.)

• ज्ञायते: is known
• ज्ञायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive: ‘is known’)

• अस्य: of this (one), of him
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (gen. sg.)

• महीपतेः: of the king (lord of the earth)
• महीपतेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (masc. gen. sg.)

Speaker

Two unnamed attendants/elders (a pair) respectfully addressing the assembled Brahmins regarding the newborn prince

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even authorized speakers approach dharma through humility and consultation with sages, emphasizing that right action depends on knowing the proper rite and duty.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Before acting in consequential matters, seek competent guidance, verify duties, and act with reverence rather than impulse.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is discerned within a living tradition (ācārya/sādhu guidance), resonating with Viśiṣṭādvaita’s emphasis on pramāṇa through śāstra and teacher-lineage.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Saṃskāra-nīti (proper rites and disciplined order)

Key Kings: Pṛthu

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins (viprāḥ)
• King (mahīpati)
• Newborn prince

FAQs

What is the significance of newborn rites (saṃskāras) in the Vishnu Purana’s royal narratives?

This verse shows that dynastic legitimacy and dharma begin at birth: the court seeks Brahmin guidance so the prince’s first rites align with sacred law and sustain rightful sovereignty.

How does the Vishnu Purana portray the relationship between kings and Brahmins in matters of dharma?

Here, the king’s household defers to the assembled vipras to determine the proper karma (ritual duty), reflecting a polity where royal power is stabilized by scriptural-ritual authority.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context, even though he is not named?

In the Purāṇic worldview, dharma and rightful kingship function within Vishnu’s cosmic order; seeking the correct rite for a royal birth implicitly affirms that sovereignty must harmonize with the Supreme sustaining principle.