Shloka 90

Devanagari script

असारसंसारविवर्तनेषु मा यात तोषं प्रसभं ब्रवीमि सर्वत्र दैत्याः समताम् उपेत समत्वम् आराधनम् अच्युतस्य

Transliteration

asārasaṃsāravivartaneṣu mā yāta toṣaṃ prasabhaṃ bravīmi sarvatra daityāḥ samatām upeta samatvam ārādhanam acyutasya

Translation

In the hollow whirlings and turnings of this insubstantial worldly existence, do not rush into complacent delight—I tell you plainly. Everywhere, O Daityas, abide in even-mindedness; for equanimity itself is the worship of the Imperishable Acyuta.

Word by Word

• asāra-saṃsāra-vivartaneṣu: in the hollow/insubstantial turnings of worldly existence
• asāra-saṃsāra-vivartaneṣu: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asāra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsāra (प्रातिपदिक) + vivartana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (vivartana-śabda-āśraya), सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन (Locative plural); तत्पुरुष: ‘असारस्य संसारस्य विवर्तनानि’

• mā: do not
• mā: Sambandha (Prohibition/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle used with imperative)

• yāta: go/seek
• yāta: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• toṣam: satisfaction/contentment
• toṣam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• prasabham: rashly/forcibly
• prasabham: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prasabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial accusative): ‘बलात्/हठात्’

• bravīmi: I say
• bravīmi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• sarvatra: everywhere
• sarvatra: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: everywhere)

• daityāḥ: O Daityas
• daityāḥ: Sambodhana/Address (Vocative-like address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (सम्बोधन/कर्ता), बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• samatām: equanimity
• samatām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• upeta: attain/approach
• upeta: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√i (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle) used as आदेश/आज्ञार्थे (imperatival sense); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन agreeing with daityāḥ

• samatvam: equanimity (state of equality)
• samatvam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विधेय), एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• ārādhanam: is worship/propitiation
• ārādhanam: Predicate Nominative (Vidheyāṃśa/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (विधेय), एकवचन (Nominative singular); समास-रहित

• acyutasya: of Acyuta (Vishnu)
• acyutasya: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Genitive singular)

Speaker

Prahlada (instructing the Daityas, as narrated within Parasara’s discourse to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Ethical and devotional counsel: equanimity as worship of Acyuta amid saṃsāra

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: urgent

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Do not delight in the insubstantial whirl of saṃsāra; cultivate equanimity everywhere, for samatva itself is worship of Acyuta.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: In success and failure, practice even-minded response, offering both to Acyuta; make daily choices that reduce reactivity and increase steadiness.

Vishishtadvaita: Frames inner discipline (samatva) as direct ārādhana of the personal Lord (Acyuta), integrating ethics into devotion rather than treating it as merely preparatory.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Vishnu)
• Daityas

FAQs

What is the significance of equanimity (samatva) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents samatva as a direct form of worship—steady, equal-minded devotion that honors Acyuta beyond the fluctuations of samsara.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame detachment from worldly change in this passage?

It calls worldly transformations ‘asāra’ (essence-less) and warns against quick satisfaction, urging inner balance as the proper spiritual stance.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu (Acyuta) here?

Vishnu is identified as Acyuta, the unfailing and immutable Supreme; devotion is defined not merely as ritual, but as unwavering inner steadiness directed to Him.