Shloka 13

प्रचेतसां तपः तथा विष्णु-स्तुतिः

The Pracetases’ Ocean Tapas and Hymn to Vishnu

Devanagari script

येन तात प्रजावृद्धौ समर्थाः कर्मणा वयम् भवेम तत् समस्तं नः कर्म व्याख्यातुम् अर्हसि

Transliteration

yena tāta prajāvṛddhau samarthāḥ karmaṇā vayam bhavema tat samastaṃ naḥ karma vyākhyātum arhasi

Translation

By what course of action, dear sir, might we become capable—through righteous activity—of increasing our progeny and prosperity? Deign to explain to us, in full, that entire discipline of action.

Word by Word

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Instrumental singular: by which)

• तात: O father/dear one
• तात: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Vocative singular)

• प्रजावृद्धौ: in the increase of progeny
• प्रजावृद्धौ: Adhikarana (Location/Topic/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजानां वृद्धिः) (Locative singular)

• समर्थाः: capable
• समर्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वयम् इति विशेषणम् (Nominative plural masculine)

• कर्मणा: by action/through practice
• कर्मणा: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• भवेम: may become
• भवेम: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/आशीः), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद (Optative, 1st person plural)

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

• समस्तम्: entire/complete
• समस्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत् इति विशेषणम् (Accusative singular neuter)

• नः: to us/for us
• नः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन; अत्र चतुर्थ्यर्थे (to us) (Dative/Genitive plural enclitic)

• कर्म: the act/rite
• कर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• व्याख्यातुम्: to explain
• व्याख्यातुम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-आ-√ख्या (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), ‘व्याख्यातुं’ (to explain)

• अर्हसि: you ought/are able
• अर्हसि: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (Present indicative, 2nd person singular)

Speaker

A respectful inquirer addressing an elder/teacher within the Parasara–Maitreya narrative frame (disciple-to-sage request for instruction on karma leading to prosperity and progeny).

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: What discipline of action enables effective increase of progeny and prosperity?

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Capacity for flourishing arises from learning and practicing a complete, righteous discipline of action (karma) under guidance.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Seek a coherent rule of life (daily disciplines, ethics, worship) rather than isolated actions, and learn it from competent teachers/texts.

Vishishtadvaita: Karma is not negated but integrated as a real means within the Lord’s economy—supporting both worldly order and higher ends when aligned to Him.

FAQs

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

It reflects the Purāṇic ideal of sustaining social and cosmic order: prosperity and progeny arise when action is performed as dharma, not merely as desire.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame the request to “explain the whole of karma” here?

As a disciple-style appeal for systematic guidance—seeking an integrated teaching on duties and rites that lead to stable flourishing when aligned with dharma.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s worldview treats dharmic karma as effective because it operates within Vishnu’s sovereign cosmic order.