Shloka 3

ऋभु-निदाघ-संवादः — अधः-ऊर्ध्व-दृष्टान्तेन अद्वैतबोधः (राजा-गज-उपमा) तथा मोक्षफलश्रुति

Devanagari script

दूरे स्थितं महाभागं जनसंमर्दवर्जकम् क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठम् आयान्तम् अरण्यात् ससमित्कुशम्

Transliteration

dūre sthitaṃ mahābhāgaṃ janasaṃmardavarjakam kṣutkṣāmakaṇṭham āyāntam araṇyāt sasamitkuśam

Translation

From afar they saw a greatly blessed and noble one, shunning the crush of people, his throat parched with hunger, coming from the forest bearing sacred fuel-sticks and kuśa grass.

Word by Word

• दूरे: at a distance
• दूरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative of place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• स्थितम्: standing
• स्थितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; 'निदाघम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• महाभागम्: very fortunate/noble
• महाभागम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् भागः यस्य/महाभागः)

• जनसंमर्दवर्जकम्: avoiding the crowd
• जनसंमर्दवर्जकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक) + संमर्द (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (जनसंमर्दं वर्जयति इति/जनसंमर्दवर्जकः)

• क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठम्: with a throat emaciated by hunger
• क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुत् (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षाम (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (क्षुत्या क्षामः कण्ठः यस्य)

• आयान्तम्: coming
• आयान्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + या (धातु) → आयान्त (शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; 'निदाघम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अरण्यात्: from the forest
• अरण्यात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• ससमित्कुशम्: with firewood and kuśa grass
• ससमित्कुशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + समित् (प्रातिपदिक) + कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः सहार्थ-तत्पुरुषः (समिद्भिः कुशैश्च सह)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Description of the noble ascetic approaching from the forest, avoiding crowds, bearing samit and kuśa.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True nobility is marked by withdrawal from crowd-driven life and steadfastness in simple ritual-ascetic discipline despite bodily hardship.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice voluntary simplicity and periodic solitude; keep daily ‘samit-kuśa’ equivalents—small, consistent disciplines that sustain clarity.

Vishishtadvaita: Embodied discipline is meaningful within the Lord’s order; the body is not denied but governed toward dharma and God-centered insight.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of samit and kuśa in the Vishnu Purana?

They signal Vedic ritual discipline and dharma—fuel-sticks for the sacred fire and kuśa as a sanctifying ritual grass—marking the person as rooted in sacred duty rather than worldly display.

How does Sage Parāśara frame virtue in dynasty narratives here?

By describing a noble figure who avoids crowds, endures hardship, and bears ritual implements, Parāśara highlights inner dharma and austerity as the true signs of greatness within royal lineages.

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

Even in genealogical episodes, the Purana’s ethic points toward Vishnu as the supreme order behind dharma: restraint, sacrifice, and rightful conduct are presented as aligning life with the sovereignty of the Supreme Reality.