Shloka 57

Devanagari script

ततः स नृपतिस् तोषं तच् छ्रुत्वा परमं ययौ सद्गुणैः श्लाघ्यताम् एति स्तव्याश् चाभ्यां गुणा मम

Transliteration

tataḥ sa nṛpatis toṣaṃ tac chrutvā paramaṃ yayau sadguṇaiḥ ślāghyatām eti stavyāś cābhyāṃ guṇā mama

Translation

Hearing those words, the king was filled with supreme satisfaction. For it is through true virtues that one becomes worthy of praise; and by such virtues my own qualities too are to be celebrated.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Desha-Kala (Adverbial/देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb of sequence: 'then/from that')

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• नृपतिः: king (lord of men)
• नृपतिः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• तोषम्: satisfaction/pleasure
• तोषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• तत्: that (speech)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तः (absolutive/gerund), 'having heard'

• परमम्: supreme/great
• परमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• ययौ: went/attained
• ययौ: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• सद्गुणैः: by good qualities
• सद्गुणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• श्लाघ्यताम्: praiseworthiness
• श्लाघ्यताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लाघ्य (प्रातिपदिक; √श्लाघ् + यत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (Singular); भाववाचक (state of being praiseworthy)

• एति: goes to/attains
• एति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• स्तव्याः: praiseworthy / to be praised
• स्तव्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तव्य (प्रातिपदिक; √स्तु + तव्यत्)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त-विशेषणम् (gerundive: 'to be praised'), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• आभ्याम्: by these two
• आभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), द्विवचनम् (Dual)

• गुणाः: qualities
• गुणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम् (Plural)

• मम: my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग-प्रयोगः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम् (Singular)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; the verse reports the king’s reaction and a maxim on virtue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Only sadguṇa makes one truly praiseworthy; even the celebration of ‘my qualities’ should be anchored in genuine virtue, not empty panegyric.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Let reputation follow character: cultivate truthfulness, restraint, generosity; accept praise only insofar as it reflects real conduct.

Vishishtadvaita: Guṇas are real excellences (not illusory); praise is meaningful when aligned with dharmic reality upheld by the Lord.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Sadguṇa (truthful virtue as basis of fame)

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• King (Nṛpati)
• Sage Parāśara
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of sadguṇa (noble virtues) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames sadguṇa as the real basis of fame and legitimacy: praiseworthiness arises from virtue, not from status alone, aligning kingship with dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the source of a ruler’s true honor?

By presenting a concise ethical principle within the dynastic narrative: a king attains lasting esteem only through good qualities, which make him genuinely worthy of praise.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even in a genealogical chapter, the Purana’s worldview is that dharma sustains cosmic order under Vishnu’s sovereignty; virtues in kings mirror that higher order and thus become truly ‘stavyā’ (worthy of praise).