Shloka 22

ऋभु–निदाघ-संवादः—अद्वैत-उपदेशः, समता, वासुदेव-स्वरूप-एकत्वम्

Devanagari script

मनसः स्वस्थता तुष्टिश् चित्तधर्माव् इमौ द्विज चेतसो यस्य तत् पृच्छ पुमान् एभिर् न युज्यते

Transliteration

manasaḥ svasthatā tuṣṭiś cittadharmāv imau dvija cetaso yasya tat pṛccha pumān ebhir na yujyate

Translation

O twice-born, steadiness of mind and contentment—these two are the true qualities of the citta. Inquire after the person whose consciousness holds them; one not joined to these is not firmly established in inner discipline.

Word by Word

• मनसः: of the mind
• मनसः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular; ‘of the mind’

• स्वस्थता: steadiness/healthiness (of mind)
• स्वस्थता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वस्थता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• तुष्टिः: contentment
• तुष्टिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• चित्तधर्मौ: two mental qualities
• चित्तधर्मौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन — Nominative dual; ‘two qualities of mind’

• इमौ: these two
• इमौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन — Nominative dual; demonstrative qualifying ‘चित्तधर्मौ’

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — Vocative singular

• चेतसः: of the mind
• चेतसः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular; relative pronoun

• तत्: that (person/thing)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular; correlating with ‘यस्य’

• पृच्छ: ask
• पृच्छ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन — ‘ask!’

• पुमान्: a man/person
• पुमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• एभिः: by/with these
• एभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• न: not
• न: Kriya-visheshana (Verb-modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• युज्यते: is connected/associated
• युज्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive) — ‘is joined/connected’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching in dialogue to Maitreya; addressing the listener as dvija)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Marks of inner discipline: what constitutes a mind fit for enquiry (svasthatā and tuṣṭi).

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mental steadiness (svasthatā) and contentment (tuṣṭi) are the essential mind-qualities required for true spiritual establishment and enquiry into the realized person.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate daily equanimity and non-reactivity (through japa, sat-saṅga, and moderation) and practice contentment by reducing craving-based decisions.

Vishishtadvaita: Prepares the jīva (a real mode of Brahman) for God-centered knowledge by purifying its dispositions without denying individuality.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of mental steadiness and contentment in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats steadiness (svasthatā) and contentment (tuṣṭi) as defining traits of a well-formed mind, implying that spiritual maturity is recognized by inner stability rather than outward display.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the test of a truly disciplined person?

He points to observable inner qualities—composure and contentment—as the criterion: inquire about the person who possesses these, because without them one is not genuinely ‘yoked’ to the path of self-rule.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the line, the Purana’s framework treats such inner order as consonant with Vishnu’s sovereignty over dharma and cosmic harmony—self-mastery becomes a way of living in alignment with the Supreme Reality.