Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

निष्पाद्यन्ते नरैस् तैस् तु स्वकर्माभिरतैः सदा विशुद्धाचरणोपेतैः सद्भिः सन्मार्गगामिभिः

Transliteration

niṣpādyante narais tais tu svakarmābhirataiḥ sadā viśuddhācaraṇopetaiḥ sadbhiḥ sanmārgagāmibhiḥ

Translation

Yet these ends are truly accomplished by those who are ever devoted to their own rightful duties (svakarma)—good people of purified conduct, endowed with blameless practice, who steadily walk the righteous path.

Word by Word

• निष्पाद्यन्ते: are accomplished, are performed
• निष्पाद्यन्ते: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस्-√पद्/पाद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive sense)

• नरैः: by men
• नरैः: Kartr (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental; agent in passive), बहुवचन

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Kartr (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Nipata (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (adversative/emphatic particle)

• स्वकर्माभिरतैः: devoted to their own duties
• स्वकर्माभिरतैः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; 'स्वकर्मणि अभिरत' = devoted to one’s own duties

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb of time)

• विशुद्धाचरणोपेतैः: endowed with pure conduct
• विशुद्धाचरणोपेतैः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आचरण (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; 'विशुद्धम् आचरणम् येषां तैः उपेतैः' = endowed with pure conduct

• सद्भिः: by the good (people)
• सद्भिः: Kartr (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'सत्' = good/virtuous person

• सन्मार्गगामिभिः: following the right path
• सन्मार्गगामिभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + गामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; 'सन् मार्गः' (right path) + 'गामिन्' (going)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Who truly accomplishes these dharmic aims and by what qualities

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharmic outcomes are fulfilled by those devoted to sva-dharma with purified conduct and steady adherence to the righteous path.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Commit to one’s responsibilities with ethical clarity (non-harm, truthfulness, discipline), making daily work a sustained spiritual practice.

Vishishtadvaita: Purified action becomes a mode of devotion: the soul serves within the Lord’s order, integrating conduct, duty, and orientation toward the Supreme.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: shanta

Characters & Entities

• The virtuous (sādhus)
• Dharma (right conduct)

FAQs

What is the significance of svakarma (one’s own duty) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse teaches that true attainment is fulfilled by those who remain steadfast in their prescribed duties, indicating that disciplined, rightful action is a primary means of inner purification and spiritual success.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of purified conduct (viśuddhācaraṇa)?

Parāśara emphasizes that outcomes worth attaining arise from purity of practice—ethical restraint, sincerity in duty, and consistent alignment with the righteous path—rather than from mere outward observance.

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

Although Vishnu is not named in the verse, Book 6 frames dharmic living as the ordered way that prepares the soul to take refuge in Vishnu, the Supreme Reality who upholds cosmic order and grants the highest end.