Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

प्राजापत्यं ब्राह्मणानां स्मृतं स्थानं क्रियावताम् स्थानम् ऐन्द्रं क्षत्रियाणां संग्रामेष्व् अनिवर्तिनाम्

Transliteration

prājāpatyaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ smṛtaṃ sthānaṃ kriyāvatām sthānam aindraṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ saṃgrāmeṣv anivartinām

Translation

For Brahmins steadfast in sacred rites, the realm of Prajāpati is declared their destined station; and for Kshatriyas who do not turn back in battle, the realm of Indra is ordained as their abode.

Word by Word

• प्राजापत्यम्: belonging to Prajāpati
• प्राजापत्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राजापत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पदं 'स्थानम्' इत्यस्य)

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्मृतम्: is declared/remembered
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-भाव (predicative: 'is said/remembered')

• स्थानम्: station/place
• स्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्रियावताम्: of those engaged in rites
• क्रियावताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रियावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्राह्मणानाम्)

• स्थानम्: station/place
• स्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ऐन्द्रम्: belonging to Indra
• ऐन्द्रम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (स्थानम्)

• क्षत्रियाणाम्: of the Kshatriyas
• क्षत्रियाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• संग्रामेषु: in battles
• संग्रामेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अनिवर्तिनाम्: of those who do not turn back
• अनिवर्तिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन् + निवर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्गयुक्त; विशेषणम् (क्षत्रियाणाम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in discourse to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Specific lokas: Prajāpati-loka for ritually steadfast brāhmaṇas; Indra-loka for unretreating kṣatriyas

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Different dharmas bear corresponding fruits: ritual fidelity leads to Prajāpati’s realm; courageous protection without retreat leads to Indra’s heaven.

Vedantic Theme: Karma

Application: Honor diverse forms of service—contemplative/ritual and protective/heroic—by performing one’s duty with steadiness and ethical restraint.

Vishishtadvaita: Plurality of fruits within samsāra is acknowledged, while higher teaching later subordinates all loka-fruits to devotion and ultimate mokṣa under the Supreme.

Characters & Entities

• Prajāpati
• Indra
• Brahmins (Brāhmaṇa)
• Kshatriyas (Kṣatriya)

FAQs

What is the significance of Prajāpati’s realm in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse it represents the karmic destination attained through disciplined performance of Brahminical rites and sacred duties.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Kshatriya ideal here?

He frames the Kshatriya’s dharma as steadfastness in battle—those who do not retreat attain Indra’s realm as the fruit of their duty.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the teaching assumes a Vishnu-governed moral cosmos where duties (dharma) yield ordered results (karma-phala) within His sovereign arrangement of worlds.