Shloka 46

प्रचेतसां तपः तथा विष्णु-स्तुतिः

The Pracetases’ Ocean Tapas and Hymn to Vishnu

Devanagari script

पतत्रिराजम् आरूढम् अवलोक्य प्रचेतसः प्रणिपेतुः शिरोभिस् तं भक्तिभारावनामितैः

Transliteration

patatrirājam ārūḍham avalokya pracetasaḥ praṇipetuḥ śirobhis taṃ bhaktibhārāvanāmitaiḥ

Translation

Beholding Him mounted upon the king of birds, Garuḍa, the Pracetases—heads bowed under the very weight of bhakti—fell down in full prostration.

Word by Word

• पतत्रिराजम्: the king of birds (Garuda)
• पतत्रिराजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतत्रि + राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पतत्रिणां राजा); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (अवलोक्य)

• आरूढम्: mounted (upon)
• आरूढम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√रुह् (आरोहणे) + क्त (आरूढ)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (पतत्रिराजम्) = 'mounted'

• अवलोक्य: having seen
• अवलोक्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अव-√लोक् (दर्शने)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund) = 'having seen'

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

• प्रणिपेतुः: prostrated, bowed down
• प्रणिपेतुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√नम् (नमने)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (वेदिक/काव्य-रूप: -एतुः)

• शिरोभिः: with (their) heads
• शिरोभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण = 'with (their) heads'

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (प्रणिपेतुः)

• भक्तिभारावनामितैः: bowed down by the weight of devotion
• भक्तिभारावनामितैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति + भार + अवनमित (आ-√नम् + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (शिरोभिः) = 'bowed down by the weight of devotion'

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True awakening culminates in surrender: devotion becomes so weighty that the body naturally bows, expressing inner realization outwardly.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Integrate embodied reverence—namaskāra, humility, service—so inner devotion is stabilized through disciplined expression.

Vishishtadvaita: Personal Lordship is central: the devotees relate to the Supreme as Master, and surrender is a real relation (śeṣa–śeṣin) not mere metaphor.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Pracetases
• Garuḍa (Patatrirāja)
• Vishnu (implied as Garuḍa-rūḍha)

FAQs

What is the significance of Garuḍa (Patatrirāja) in the Vishnu Purana?

Garuḍa signifies Vishnu’s sovereign presence; seeing the Lord upon Garuḍa marks an unmistakable divine epiphany that evokes immediate reverence and surrender.

How does Sage Parāśara explain devotion (bhakti) through this moment?

By depicting the Pracetases physically bowed “under the weight of bhakti,” Parāśara presents devotion not as sentiment but as a compelling spiritual power that naturally leads to humility and prostration.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu is implied as the Supreme Reality whose mere appearance elicits śaraṇāgati; the verse frames divine darśana as the catalyst for surrender central to Vaiṣṇava thought.