Shloka 10

प्रियव्रतवंशवर्णनम् — सप्तद्वीपविभागः, जम्बूद्वीप-वर्षविभागः, भरत-नामकरणम्

Devanagari script

निर्ममाः सर्वकालं तु समस्तार्थेषु वै मुने चक्रुः क्रिया यथान्यायम् अफलाकाङ्क्षिणो हि ते

Transliteration

nirmamāḥ sarvakālaṃ tu samastārtheṣu vai mune cakruḥ kriyā yathānyāyam aphalākāṅkṣiṇo hi te

Translation

O sage, ever free from possessiveness in all matters, they performed their actions according to what is just and proper; indeed, they acted without craving for the fruits of their deeds.

Word by Word

• निर्ममाः: free from possessiveness
• निर्ममाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• सर्वकालम्: at all times
• सर्वकालम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे कालवाचक (adverbial accusative of time)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• समस्तार्थेषु: in all matters
• समस्तार्थेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समस्त + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; ‘समस्त’ विशेषणपूर्वपद (all)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• चक्रुः: they did/performed
• चक्रुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• क्रियाः: actions
• क्रियाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Manner marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/in the manner)

• अन्यायम्: according to rule/justice
• अन्यायम्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (adverbial accusative of manner)

• अफलाकाङ्क्षिणः: not desiring results
• अफलाकाङ्क्षिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + फल + आकाङ्क्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (not desiring fruit)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (for/indeed)

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya as ‘mune’)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Virtuous conduct and just action of Priyavrata’s descendants/subjects in the ordering of the earth

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Actions should be performed according to dharma, free from possessiveness and without craving for results.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Do your responsibilities conscientiously while reducing attachment to outcomes through daily reflection and offering results to God.

Vishishtadvaita: Ethical action becomes a mode of service (śeṣatva) when done without egoistic ownership, aligning the self with the Lord’s order.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of acting without desire for results in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights that true dharmic action is performed according to what is right (nyāya), free from possessiveness and expectation of reward—an ethic that supports inner purity and social-cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the ideal mode of action here?

Parāśara describes a model of conduct marked by nirmamatva (no sense of ‘mine’) and disciplined performance of duties as prescribed, emphasizing propriety over personal gain.

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

Though not named in the verse, the teaching aligns with Vaishnava cosmology: selfless, just action harmonizes with the divine order upheld by Vishnu as the supreme regulator of dharma and the cosmos.