Shloka 11

प्रचेतसां तपः तथा विष्णु-स्तुतिः

The Pracetases’ Ocean Tapas and Hymn to Vishnu

Devanagari script

तन् मम प्रीतये पुत्राः प्रजावृद्धिम् अतन्द्रिताः कुरुध्वं माननीया च सम्यग् आज्ञा प्रजापतेः

Transliteration

tan mama prītaye putrāḥ prajāvṛddhim atandritāḥ kurudhvaṃ mānanīyā ca samyag ājñā prajāpateḥ

Translation

Therefore, for my satisfaction, O sons, strive without negligence to foster the increase of beings; for Prajāpati’s command is truly proper and is to be honored in full.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• प्रीतये: for (my) pleasure
• प्रीतये: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन (Dative singular)

• पुत्राः: O sons
• पुत्राः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Vocative/Nominative plural)

• प्रजावृद्धिम्: increase of progeny/subjects
• प्रजावृद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजानां वृद्धिः) (Accusative singular)

• अतन्द्रिताः: unwearied/diligent
• अतन्द्रिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-तन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्गयुक्त विशेषणम् (not lazy), पुत्राः इति विशेषणम् (Nominative plural masculine)

• कुरुध्वम्: do/perform
• कुरुध्वम्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद (Imperative, 2nd person plural)

• माननीया: to be honored/respected
• माननीया: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √मान् (धातु) + अनीयर् (कृदन्त)
• Form: अनीयर्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; आज्ञा इति विशेषणम् (Nominative singular feminine)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• सम्यक्: properly/rightly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आज्ञा: command/order
• आज्ञा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• प्रजापतेः: of Prajāpati
• प्रजापतेः: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Genitive singular)

Speaker

Prajāpati (the Lord of progeny/creator-authority) addressing his sons (progenitors)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Proper honoring of Prajāpati’s command to foster beings

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Progeny-sustaining action must be performed attentively and as reverent compliance with the rightful command of the cosmic steward (Prajāpati).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Do essential responsibilities without procrastination, treating them as sacred service rather than mere obligation.

Vishishtadvaita: Right action is meaningful as service within the Lord’s ordered universe, where authority and duty are real and relational.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: dasya

Characters & Entities

• Prajāpati
• Putrāḥ (sons/progenitors)
• Prajā (creatures/progeny)

FAQs

What is the significance of prajā-vṛddhi (increase of progeny) in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks the Sarga-duty of progenitors: sustaining cosmic continuity by expanding and organizing living beings in accordance with divine ordinance.

How does the text frame obedience to Prajāpati’s command in this verse?

As a rightful and honor-worthy injunction—meant to be carried out diligently (atandrita), showing that cosmic order depends on disciplined fulfillment of assigned roles.

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

Even when Prajāpati speaks, the Purana’s cosmology treats such governance as functioning within Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty—divine command becomes a vehicle for maintaining Vishnu-ordained order.