Shloka 20

परमार्थ-निर्णयः—श्रेयस्-भेदः, कर्म-ध्यान-सीमा, एकात्मदर्शनम्

Devanagari script

राज्यादिप्राप्तिर् अत्रोक्ता परमार्थतया यदि परमार्था भवन्त्य् अत्र न भवन्ति च वै ततः

Transliteration

rājyādiprāptir atroktā paramārthatayā yadi paramārthā bhavanty atra na bhavanti ca vai tataḥ

Translation

Here, the attainment of kingship and the like is spoken of only insofar as it serves the Supreme End; but if it does not truly become an instrument of that Highest Purpose, then it is not the Supreme Purpose at all.

Word by Word

• राज्यादि-प्राप्तिः: attainment of kingdom etc.
• राज्यादि-प्राप्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—राज्यादीनां प्राप्तिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• उक्ता: is stated
• उक्ता: Predicate (Kriyā/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘कथिता/उच्यते’ इत्यर्थः

• परमार्थतया: as the highest truth
• परमार्थतया: Instrument/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमार्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + तया (तृतीया-एकवचन प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक ‘परमार्थ’; तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भावे—‘परमार्थरूपेण/परमार्थत्वेन’

• यदि: if
• यदि: Discourse/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक अव्यय (conditional particle)

• परमार्थाः: (they) highest truths
• परमार्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• भवन्ति: are / become
• भवन्ति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• भवन्ति: are / become
• भवन्ति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/उपपादनार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• ततः: therefore / from that
• ततः: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-इत्यर्थे अपादानार्थक/हेतुवाचक (ablatival adverb: ‘therefore/from that’)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Whether worldly attainments like kingship can be considered the highest end (paramārtha) and how they relate to liberation.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kingship and similar achievements matter only insofar as they serve the supreme end (mokṣa/paramārtha); otherwise they are not truly the highest good.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat status, career, and power as instruments for dharma and inner growth, not as final goals; periodically audit motives and outcomes.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms a hierarchy of ends where all finite goals become meaningful only when subordinated to the supreme end realized in relation to Viṣṇu.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of kingship (rājya) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames kingship as valuable only when it serves the highest end (paramārtha)—supporting dharma and devotion—rather than being treated as the ultimate goal.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the difference between worldly success and Paramārtha?

Parāśara indicates that achievements like power and rule are discussed as means; if they do not genuinely lead toward the supreme good, they cannot be called paramārtha.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Implicitly, the “supreme purpose” culminates in alignment with the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—so worldly authority gains meaning only when oriented toward that highest truth.