Shloka 15

विषप्रयोगः कृत्योत्पादनं च (प्रह्लादस्य अवध्यता, कृत्याविनाशः, पुरोहितानां रक्षणम्)

Devanagari script

पिता च मम सर्वस्मिञ् जगत्य् उत्कृष्टचेष्टितः एतद् अप्य् अवगच्छामि सत्यम् अत्रापि नानृतम्

Transliteration

pitā ca mama sarvasmiñ jagaty utkṛṣṭaceṣṭitaḥ etad apy avagacchāmi satyam atrāpi nānṛtam

Translation

My father, in all this world, is foremost in conduct and accomplishment. This too I understand: here also it is truth—there is no falsehood in it.

Word by Word

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — masculine, nominative singular

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

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन — genitive singular (pronoun)

• सर्वस्मिन्: in all
• सर्वस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — locative singular; विशेषण (qualifier)

• जगति: in the world
• जगति: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — locative singular

• उत्कृष्टचेष्टितः: of excellent conduct/effort
• उत्कृष्टचेष्टितः: Karta (Subject-Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्कृष्ट (कृदन्त/भूतकृदन्त, उत्+कृष्) + चेष्टित (कृदन्त/भूतकृदन्त, चेष्ट्) (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — nominative singular; विशेषण (qualifier of पिता)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• अवगच्छामि: I understand
• अवगच्छामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव+गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन — present indicative, 1st sg

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma/Prayojya (Predicative complement/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular; विधेय (predicate-noun)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अनृतम्: falsehood
• अनृतम्: Karma/Prayojya (Predicative complement/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular; विधेय (predicate-noun)

Speaker

Unspecified (a character within the genealogical narrative, quoted by the narrator)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Satya (truthfulness) and the recognition of exemplary conduct are affirmed as reliable guides for right judgment.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate discernment by honoring proven integrity and verifying speech by its consistency with truth and character.

Vishishtadvaita: Epistemic humility: truth is apprehended through trustworthy authority (āpta-vacana), a key support for devotion grounded in reliable revelation.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Father (pitā)
• World (jagat)

FAQs

What is the significance of praising a father’s excellence in the Vishnu Purana’s dynastic sections?

In the Vaṁśa (dynasty) narratives, such praise functions as a marker of legitimate lineage and dharmic authority, presenting exemplary conduct as the basis for rightful rule.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame truth (satya) in this verse?

Truth is presented as verifiable moral clarity—“here too it is truth”—emphasizing that righteous reputation and dharmic assessment are not mere flattery but grounded in reality.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s dynastic history is ultimately read as unfolding within Vishnu’s cosmic order, where satya and dharma are signs of alignment with the Supreme sustaining principle.