Shloka 21

प्रचेतसां तपः तथा विष्णु-स्तुतिः

The Pracetases’ Ocean Tapas and Hymn to Vishnu

Devanagari script

स्तवं प्रचेतसो विष्णोः समुद्राम्भसि संस्थिताः चक्रुस् तं मे मुनिश्रेष्ठ सुपुण्यं वक्तुम् अर्हसि

Transliteration

stavaṃ pracetaso viṣṇoḥ samudrāmbhasi saṃsthitāḥ cakrus taṃ me muniśreṣṭha supuṇyaṃ vaktum arhasi

Translation

O best of sages, while dwelling within the ocean’s waters, the Pracetas composed a hymn of praise to Lord Viṣṇu. It is supremely meritorious—be pleased to recite that sacred stotra to me.

Word by Word

• स्तवम्: hymn/praise
• स्तवम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular

• प्रचेतसः: the Pracetas
• प्रचेतसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रचेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन — nominative plural (name: the Pracetas)

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन — genitive singular

• समुद्र-अम्भसि: in the ocean-water
• समुद्र-अम्भसि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष) ‘समुद्रस्य अम्भसि’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — locative singular

• संस्थिताः: situated
• संस्थिताः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन — ‘being situated/standing’ (qualifies ‘प्रचेतसः’)

• चक्रुः: made/composed
• चक्रुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन — ‘they did/made’

• तम्: that (hymn)
• तम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — demonstrative pronoun

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन — enclitic genitive ‘of me/to me’

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

• सुपुण्यम्: very meritorious
• सुपुण्यम्: Karman (Qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — adjective qualifying ‘तम् (स्तवम्)’

• वक्तुम्: to tell
• वक्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), अव्ययवत् — ‘to speak/tell’

• अर्हसि: you should/are able
• अर्हसि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन — ‘you are fit/you should’

Speaker

Maitreya (addressing Sage Parāśara)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: Request to recite the supremely meritorious stotra composed by the Pracetās to Viṣṇu in the ocean-waters.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: earnest, inquisitive

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa of a Viṣṇu-stotra is itself declared supuṇya, indicating that hearing and transmitting praise is a means of accruing merit and devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice regular śravaṇa—listen to stotras with attention and request competent recitation/teaching rather than casual reading.

Vishishtadvaita: Devotional acts (hearing/reciting) are meaningful means (upāya) because the Lord is a real, gracious recipient who sanctifies the act.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Pracetas
• Ocean (Samudra)
• Sage Parasara
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of the Pracetas praising Vishnu while in the ocean in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights intense tapas and devotion: the Pracetas, dwelling in the cosmic waters, turn to Vishnu as the supreme refuge, and their hymn becomes a spiritually meritorious model of bhakti.

How does Sage Parasara explain the role of stotras (hymns) in spiritual progress?

In this narrative flow, Maitreya requests the stotra because it is 'supuṇya'—implying Parasara presents hymns to Vishnu as powerful means for purification, merit, and aligning the mind with the Supreme.

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

Vishnu is treated as the highest object of praise and the sustaining Lord over the primordial waters—reinforcing Vaishnava theology where devotion to Vishnu connects the devotee to the supreme cosmic order.