Shloka 45

प्रह्लादस्य अव्यभिचारिणी भक्ति, मायाविनाशः, तथा विष्णोः विश्वरूप-स्तुतिः

Devanagari script

जडानाम् अविवेकानाम् अशूराणाम् अपि प्रभो भाग्यभोज्यानि राज्यानि सन्त्य् अनीतिमताम् अपि

Transliteration

jaḍānām avivekānām aśūrāṇām api prabho bhāgyabhojyāni rājyāni santy anītimatām api

Translation

O Lord, even the dull-witted, undiscerning, and unheroic may possess kingdoms—realms merely ‘consumed’ by fortune; indeed, sovereignty is found even among the unrighteous.

Word by Word

• जडानाम्: of the dull
• जडानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; विशेषण (जनानाम् implied)

• अविवेकानाम्: of the undiscerning
• अविवेकानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + विवेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• अशूराणाम्: of the unheroic
• अशूराणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (also/even)

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• भाग्यभोज्यानि: enjoyed through fortune
• भाग्यभोज्यानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाग्य + भोज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भाग्येन भोज्यानि)

• राज्यानि: kingdoms
• राज्यानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सन्ति: exist/are
• सन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• अनीतिमताम्: of the unjust
• अनीतिमताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + नीति + मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (also/even)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing the Supreme Lord/Vishnu in reflective narration within the Parāśara–Maitreya dialogue frame)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Apparent injustice: why even unrighteous or incompetent people can hold power—‘bhāgya’ as enjoyer of rājya

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly sovereignty can accrue even to dull, undiscerning, and unrighteous persons because it is a consumable result of past fortune, not a proof of virtue.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Do not equate social power with moral worth; judge by conduct and cultivate virtue irrespective of external success.

Vishishtadvaita: Detaches ‘śrī’ (worldly prosperity) from spiritual merit, reinforcing that the highest good is communion with the Lord, not political success.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kings
• Fortune (Bhāgya)

FAQs

What is the significance of fortune (bhāgya) in the Vishnu Purana’s view of kingship?

This verse states that political power can arise from fortune alone, so kingship is not always a proof of virtue; it may be a temporary enjoyment granted by karmic circumstance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the coexistence of sovereignty and unrighteousness?

Parāśara highlights the paradox that kingdoms can belong even to the unjust, implying that worldly results may reflect complex karmic momentum rather than immediate moral worth.

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

By addressing the Lord, the verse frames worldly sovereignty as subordinate to the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—who ultimately governs the moral order beyond the surface play of fortune.