Shloka 23

Pracetās, Māriṣā, Dakṣa’s Re-manifestation, and the Brahma-parastava; Cyclic Creation and Genealogies

Devanagari script

तया च रमतस् तस्य परमर्षेर् अहर्निशम् नवं नवम् अभूत् प्रेम मन्मथाविष्टचेतसः

Transliteration

tayā ca ramatas tasya paramarṣer aharniśam navaṃ navam abhūt prema manmathāviṣṭacetasaḥ

Translation

As that great seer delighted in union with her, day and night, his love kept arising ever anew—his mind wholly seized by Manmatha, the power of desire.

Word by Word

• तया: with her
• तया: Sahakari (Associate/सहकारी; with her)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• रमतः: of (him) enjoying
• रमतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु) → रमत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (of him who is sporting)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• परमर्षेः: of the great sage
• परमर्षेः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमर्षि (प्रातिपदिक) [परम + ऋषि]
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः (supreme sage)

• अहर्निशम्: day and night
• अहर्निशम्: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहर्निशम् (अव्यय) [अहः + निशा]
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय; द्वन्द्वसमासात् अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (day and night = always)

• नवम्: new
• नवम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (anew)

• नवम्: ever new
• नवम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्तिः (again and again)

• अभूत्: arose / became
• अभूत्: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रेम: love
• प्रेम: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मन्मथ-आविष्ट-चेतसः: of him whose mind was possessed by desire
• मन्मथ-आविष्ट-चेतसः: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्मथ (प्रातिपदिक) + आविष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त; आ + विश् धातु) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (मन्मथेन आविष्टं चेतः यस्य)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even exalted ascetics can be overpowered by desire, showing the need for vigilance and disciplined remembrance of dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Treat powerful emotions as transient forces; maintain daily disciplines and seek grounding practices to avoid loss of clarity.

Vishishtadvaita: Human agency is real yet dependent; the jīva’s susceptibility underscores the need for grace and ordered practice oriented to Bhagavān.

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Manmatha (Kāma)

FAQs

What is the significance of Manmatha (Kāma) in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, Manmatha symbolizes the compelling force of desire that can seize the mind and generate ever-renewing attachment, illustrating how worldly bondage operates within creation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the rise of attachment in this context?

Parāśara presents attachment as repetitive and self-renewing (“navaṃ navam”), showing that once the mind is overtaken by desire, affection continually intensifies through ongoing enjoyment.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in this line, the Purana’s framework treats such psychological forces as part of prakṛti’s functioning under the Supreme Lord’s order—highlighting the need for dharma and devotion to transcend binding desire.