Shloka 42

प्रह्लादस्य अव्यभिचारिणी भक्ति, मायाविनाशः, तथा विष्णोः विश्वरूप-स्तुतिः

Devanagari script

तद् एतद् अवगम्याहम् असारं साध्यम् उत्तमम् निशामय महाभाग प्रणिपत्य ब्रवीमि यत्

Transliteration

tad etad avagamyāham asāraṃ sādhyam uttamam niśāmaya mahābhāga praṇipatya bravīmi yat

Translation

Having understood this, I have discerned what is truly the supreme attainment and what is hollow and without essence. Listen, O greatly fortunate one; bowing down, I shall now declare it to you.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अवगम्य: having understood
• अवगम्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having understood’

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

• असारम्: insubstantial
• असारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• साध्यम्: the goal to be achieved
• साध्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक; √साध् से)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: supreme
• उत्तमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (साध्यम्-विशेषण)

• निशामय: listen/consider
• निशामय: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + शम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महाभाग: O fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (महान् भागः यस्य/हे महाभाग)

• प्रणिपत्य: having prostrated
• प्रणिपत्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नि + पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having bowed down’

• ब्रवीमि: I say
• ब्रवीमि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यत्: what/that which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

Speaker

A speaker addressing a revered listener (contextually within the Purāṇic dialogue tradition; commonly framed under Parāśara’s instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Distinguishing the supreme puruṣārtha from insubstantial worldly aims; what is truly to be attained (sādhya-uttama)

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viveka reveals the supreme goal worth attaining and exposes worldly attainments as insubstantial.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Regularly examine desires and goals, and prioritize what leads to lasting freedom over status-driven pursuits.

Vishishtadvaita: The ‘supreme to be attained’ is implied to be Viṣṇu-realization, approached through reverent listening (śravaṇa) within a guru-disciple frame.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of sāra (essence) and asāra (non-essence) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights spiritual discrimination: recognizing what is ultimately meaningful and rejecting what is empty, preparing the listener for the highest teaching and goal.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame the approach to receiving higher instruction?

It emphasizes attentive listening and humility—“listen” (niśāmaya) and “having bowed” (praṇipatya)—signaling a disciplined, reverent mode of receiving transformative knowledge.

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

Even when not named in the verse, the Purāṇic arc points the “supreme attainment” toward the highest reality identified in the Vishnu Purana as Vishnu—the ultimate refuge and goal.