Shloka 36

Devanagari script

तान् एवाहं न पश्यामि मित्रादींस् तात मा क्रुधः साध्याभावे महाबाहो साधनैः किं प्रयोजनम्

Transliteration

tān evāhaṃ na paśyāmi mitrādīṃs tāta mā krudhaḥ sādhyābhāve mahābāho sādhanaiḥ kiṃ prayojanam

Translation

I do not see those allies and the rest at all, dear father—do not be angry. O mighty-armed one, when the very goal is absent, what purpose can any means possibly serve?

Word by Word

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• पश्यामि: I see
• पश्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मित्रादीन्: friends and the like
• मित्रादीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक; components: मित्र + आदि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘friends etc.’ (आदि-समास)

• तात: dear father
• तात: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन-शब्द

• मा: do not
• मा: Sambandha (Prohibition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle, used with लोट्)

• क्रुधः: be angry
• क्रुधः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; निषेध ‘मा’ सह

• साध्याभावे: when the goal is absent
• साध्याभावे: Adhikarana (Condition/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य + अभाव (प्रातिपदिक; components: साध्य + अभाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (साध्यस्य अभावः = absence of the goal)

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• महाबाहो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक; components: महा + बाहु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् बाहुः यस्य)

• साधनैः: by means, with methods
• साधनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (Interrogative object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• प्रयोजनम्: use, purpose
• प्रयोजनम्: Karta (Predicate-noun/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Unspecified character within the Ansha 4 narrative (a counsel-giver addressing a ‘mighty-armed’ prince/warrior)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Means (upāya) are futile when the true goal is not defined; ultimate human endeavor must be oriented to the highest good, not merely strategic success.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Clarify your life’s telos (values and ultimate aim) before optimizing tactics; align career, relationships, and discipline with that aim.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms puruṣārtha hierarchy: without the Supreme as the end, worldly instruments are empty—supporting Viśiṣṭādvaita’s bhagavad-prāpti as the highest goal.

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Teaching (Prahlada's schools)

Bhakti Quality: Vairāgya and single-pointedness: worldly means are meaningless without the true end (parama-puruṣārtha).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of ‘means and ends’ (sādhana–sādhya) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames a key practical ethic: effort (means) is meaningful only when the goal is real and attainable; otherwise, strategy and action become futile.

How does the Vishnu Purana present counsel in dynasty narratives?

Through dialogues where advisers restrain anger and redirect rulers toward discernment—prioritizing achievable aims, alliances, and dharma-aligned decisions.

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

Even in political and genealogical episodes, the Purana’s worldview implies that righteous order (dharma) and successful governance ultimately rest on alignment with the cosmic sovereignty upheld by Vishnu.