Shloka 19

प्रचेतसां तपः तथा विष्णु-स्तुतिः

The Pracetases’ Ocean Tapas and Hymn to Vishnu

Devanagari script

दश वर्षसहस्राणि न्यस्तचित्ता जगत्पतौ नारायणे मुनिश्रेष्ठ सर्वलोकपरायणे

Transliteration

daśa varṣasahasrāṇi nyastacittā jagatpatau nārāyaṇe muniśreṣṭha sarvalokaparāyaṇe

Translation

For ten thousand years, their minds wholly surrendered and absorbed in Nārāyaṇa—the Lord of the universe, the supreme refuge and final goal of all worlds.

Word by Word

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग-द्वितीया/प्रथमा बहुवचनार्थे ‘ten’ (varṣasahasrāṇi इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• वर्ष-सहस्राणि: thousands of years
• वर्ष-सहस्राणि: Kala-adhikarana (Time extent/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; कालपरिमाण (duration)

• न्यस्त-चित्ताः: with minds fixed (on)
• न्यस्त-चित्ताः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्यस्त (√न्यस्/सम्-√अस्; क्त-प्रत्यय) + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘न्यस्तं चित्तं येषाम्’ (अर्थतः बहुव्रीहिवत्, परन्तु रूपेण तत्पुरुष-समासप्रयोगः)

• जगत्-पतौ: in/at the Lord of the world
• जगत्-पतौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘जगतः पतिः’

• नारायणे: in Narayana
• नारायणे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; जगत्पतौ इत्यस्य समनाधिकरण

• मुनि-श्रेष्ठ: O best of sages
• मुनि-श्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; ‘मुनीनां श्रेष्ठ’

• सर्व-लोक-परायणे: in the refuge of all worlds
• सर्व-लोक-परायणे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘सर्वलोकानां परायणः’ (ultimate refuge of all worlds)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One-pointed surrender to Nārāyaṇa—the Lord of the universe and final refuge of all worlds—sustained over time, is the hallmark of effective devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Practice steady, long-term devotion (japa, nāma-saṅkīrtana, pūjā) with clear intention of śaraṇāgati rather than intermittent enthusiasm.

Vishishtadvaita: Śaraṇāgati/nyāsa (‘nyasta-citta’) to Nārāyaṇa as universal refuge foregrounds the soul’s dependence and the Lord’s saving grace.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Narayana

FAQs

What is the significance of being "nyasta-citta" (mind surrendered) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents total inner surrender and unwavering absorption in Nārāyaṇa as the defining feature of spiritual practice, where devotion becomes a direct orientation to the Supreme Lord.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of long tapas (austerity) here?

By stating “ten thousand years,” Parāśara highlights steadfast, sustained contemplation as a narrative marker of extraordinary devotion directed exclusively toward Nārāyaṇa.

What is the theological importance of calling Vishnu "Jagatpati" and "Sarva-loka-parāyaṇa"?

These epithets affirm Vishnu/Nārāyaṇa as the sovereign of the cosmos and the ultimate refuge of all realms, reinforcing Vaishnava doctrine that the Supreme Reality is personal and universally sustaining.