Shloka 76

प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

तस्माद् बाल्ये विवेकात्मा यतेत श्रेयसे सदा बाल्ययौवनवृद्धाद्यैर् देहभावैर् असंयुतः

Transliteration

tasmād bālye vivekātmā yateta śreyase sadā bālyayauvanavṛddhādyair dehabhāvair asaṃyutaḥ

Translation

Therefore, even in childhood, one whose very nature is discernment should ever strive for the highest good, remaining unattached to the body’s changing states—childhood, youth, old age, and the rest.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that reason
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (हेतु-अर्थे/तस्मात् = therefore), सर्वनाम-प्रयोगः

• बाल्ये: in childhood
• बाल्ये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• विवेकात्मा: one whose nature is discernment
• विवेकात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवेक (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विवेकस्य आत्मा = whose nature is discernment)

• यतेत: should strive
• यतेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यत् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्रेयसे: for the highest good
• श्रेयसे: Sampradana (Recipient/Goal/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, काल-अर्थक क्रियाविशेषण

• बाल्ययौवनवृद्धाद्यैः: by (states such as) childhood, youth, old age, etc.
• बाल्ययौवनवृद्धाद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + यौवन (प्रातिपदिक) + वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (बाल्य-यौवन-वृद्ध-आदि)

• देहभावैः: with bodily conditions
• देहभावैः: Karana (Instrument/Association/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देहस्य भावाः)

• असंयुतः: unattached, not joined
• असंयुतः: Karta (Predicate adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + युज् (धातु) → संयुत (कृदन्त) + अ- (निषेध)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नकारार्थक उपसर्ग-प्रयोगः

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Means to attain śreyas (highest good) through viveka and detachment from bodily states

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One should strive early for the highest good by remaining unattached to the body’s changing conditions across life stages.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Practice daily reflection on impermanence and cultivate steady disciplines (japa, study, meditation) without identifying with age, appearance, or capability.

Vishishtadvaita: Detachment is not denial of embodiment but refusal to mistake the changing body for the enduring self that is supported by the Lord.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of striving for śreyas in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse urges continuous effort toward the highest good (śreyas—liberation) rather than postponing spiritual practice, because bodily life moves through unstable stages.

How does Sage Parāśara explain viveka (discernment) in this context?

Parāśara frames viveka as the capacity to see the body’s stages—childhood, youth, old age—as transient conditions, and therefore to remain unattached while pursuing the lasting goal.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the teaching aligns with Vaishnava liberation doctrine: turning from temporary bodily identity toward the Supreme Reality that grants the highest good.