Shloka 30

Devanagari script

तं पिता मूर्ध्न्य् उपाघ्राय परिष्वज्य च पीडितम् जीवसीत्य् आह वत्सेति बाष्पार्द्रनयनो द्विज

Transliteration

taṃ pitā mūrdhny upāghrāya pariṣvajya ca pīḍitam jīvasīty āha vatseti bāṣpārdranayano dvija

Translation

O brāhmaṇa, the father—his eyes wet with tears—smelled his son’s head and clasped him close; seeing him worn by suffering, he cried, “You live! My child, you live!”

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पिता: the father
• पिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उपाघ्राय: having smelled/kissed (by smelling)
• उपाघ्राय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घ्रा (धातु) + उप (उपसर्ग)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• परिष्वज्य: having embraced
• परिष्वज्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वज् (धातु) + परि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

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

• पीडितम्: afflicted; distressed
• पीडितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीड् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘पीडित’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (agreeing with ‘तम्’)

• जीवसि: you live/are alive
• जीवसि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वत्स: O child
• वत्स: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणसूचक

• बाष्पार्द्रनयनः: with eyes wet with tears
• बाष्पार्द्रनयनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाष्प+आर्द्र+नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (बाष्पेण आर्द्राणि नयनानि यस्य)

• द्विज: O brāhmaṇa (twice-born)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; addressing him as dvija)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Filial reunion and compassionate embrace affirm dharma within the household, even after intense suffering.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Honor elders and heal relationships through humility and presence; let devotion mature into gentleness and gratitude in family life.

Vishishtadvaita: Devotion to Viṣṇu does not negate worldly duties; it ennobles them, harmonizing bhakti with gṛhastha-dharma.

Characters & Entities

• Father
• Son
• Dvija (Maitreya/Brāhmaṇa addressee)

FAQs

What is the significance of the father’s embrace in this Vishnu Purana verse?

It marks the restoration of relationship and life after suffering—an emotional pivot used in dynastic narratives to highlight providence and the resilience of dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara frame human suffering and survival in this context?

By focusing on the visible signs of affliction and the astonished relief—“You live!”—Parāśara presents survival as a turning point that invites gratitude and renewed duty.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s worldview implies life is upheld by the Supreme as the indwelling sustainer; the reunion underscores divine order operating through human events.