Shloka 12

मानवसर्गः, चातुर्वर्ण्य-गुणकर्म, यज्ञ-प्रतिपादनम्, आश्रमधर्म-फल, नरकवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

यथेच्छावासनिरताः सर्वबाधाविवर्जिताः शुद्धान्तःकरणाः शुद्धाः सर्वानुष्ठाननिर्मलाः

Transliteration

yathecchāvāsaniratāḥ sarvabādhāvivarjitāḥ śuddhāntaḥkaraṇāḥ śuddhāḥ sarvānuṣṭhānanirmalāḥ

Translation

They abided in desire only as it accords with dharma, untouched by any obstruction or affliction. Pure in their inmost mind, they were stainless—made immaculate by every sacred observance and discipline.

Word by Word

• यथा: as, according to
• यथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: 'as/according to')

• इच्छा: desire
• इच्छा: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• वासना: inclination, latent tendency
• वासना: Sambandha (Compound-member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• निरताः: engaged, devoted
• निरताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• सर्वबाधाविवर्जिताः: free from all obstacles
• सर्वबाधाविवर्जिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + बाधा (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सर्वाभिः बाधाभिः विवर्जिताः)

• शुद्धान्तःकरणाः: having purified inner organ (mind)
• शुद्धान्तःकरणाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तःकरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (शुद्धं अन्तःकरणं येषाम्)

• शुद्धाः: pure
• शुद्धाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• सर्वानुष्ठाननिर्मलाः: pure in all observances
• सर्वानुष्ठाननिर्मलाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुष्ठान (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सर्वेषु अनुष्ठानेषु निर्मलाः / सर्वानुष्ठानैः निर्मलाः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Qualities of early beings: dharma-aligned desires, unobstructed life, purity through observances

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: descriptive-revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Desire is to be harmonized with dharma, and inner purity (śuddhāntaḥkaraṇa) is refined by consistent sacred observances.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Reduce compulsive craving by aligning wants with ethical commitments; adopt steady sādhana (japa, vrata, satya) to cleanse the mind.

Vishishtadvaita: Purification of the inner instrument prepares the jīva for God-centered knowledge, consistent with the soul’s real transformation (not mere illusion) in relation to the Lord.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of inner purity (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents inner purity as the defining mark of the spiritually refined person—one who is unobstructed by afflictions and made stainless through disciplined practice.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the regulation of desire (vāsanā) here?

He describes desire not as mere indulgence, but as aligned with what is proper—so that one remains free from hindrances and spiritually clear.

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

By emphasizing purity, disciplined observance, and freedom from obstruction, the verse frames the inner readiness required for steadfast orientation toward Vishnu as the Supreme Reality.