Shloka 14

सोमचक्रः, ग्रह-रथाः, ध्रुवबन्धनं, शिशुमारसंनिवेशः, विष्णु-सर्वात्मकता

Moon, Planets, Dhruva-Tethering, Śiśumāra, and Vishnu as All

Devanagari script

एवं देवान् सिते पक्षे कृष्णपक्षे तथा पितॄन् वीरुधश् चामृतमयैः शीतैर् अप्परमाणुभिः

Transliteration

evaṃ devān site pakṣe kṛṣṇapakṣe tathā pitṝn vīrudhaś cāmṛtamayaiḥ śītair apparamāṇubhiḥ

Translation

Thus, in the bright fortnight one should satisfy the gods, and in the dark fortnight likewise the Pitṛs; and with cool, nectar-like, exceedingly subtle drops, one also nourishes the plants.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• सिते: in the bright (white)
• सिते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• पक्षे: fortnight
• पक्षे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• कृष्णपक्षे: in the dark fortnight
• कृष्णपक्षे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): समुच्चय/तुल्यत्व (so/likewise)

• पितॄन्: the Pitṛs
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• वीरुधः: plants/creepers
• वीरुधः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरुध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

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

• अमृतमयैः: with nectar-like (particles)
• अमृतमयैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (masc/neut), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (adjective)

• शीतैः: cool
• शीतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (masc/neut), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (adjective)

• अप्परमाणुभिः: by water-atoms / minute watery particles
• अप्परमाणुभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् + परमाणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How lunar phases apportion satisfaction to Devas, Pitṛs, and even plants

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: compassionate

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is participation in a divinely ordered economy where offerings and natural processes sustain all beings.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Live seasonally and ritually—gratitude, responsible consumption, and periodic ancestral remembrance—as ecological dharma.

Vishishtadvaita: Jagat as the Lord’s body: even plants are sustained through His ordinance, showing immanent governance within one unified reality.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitrs (ancestors)
• Vegetation (virudh)

FAQs

What is the significance of Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse assigns ritual orientation by lunar fortnight: the bright half for offerings that satisfy the Devas, and the dark half for offerings directed to the Pitrs, aligning human action with cosmic rhythms.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the purpose of offerings (tarpana) here?

Parāśara frames tarpana as nourishment distributed to different recipients—Devas, Pitrs, and even vegetation—through subtle, cooling, ‘nectar-like’ waters, emphasizing maintenance of the world through dharma.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the teaching assumes a Vishnu-centered cosmos: orderly time (pakṣas) and rightful recipients reflect a universe sustained by the Supreme who governs nourishment and merit.