Shloka 20

भारतवर्षमहात्म्यम् — कर्मभूमित्वम्, नवभेदाः, कुलपर्वताः-नद्यः-जनपदाः, युगचक्रविशेषः, यज्ञपुरुषविष्णुपूजा

Devanagari script

तपस् तप्यन्ति यतयो जुह्वते चात्र यज्विनः दानानि चात्र दीयन्ते परलोकार्थम् आदरात्

Transliteration

tapas tapyanti yatayo juhvate cātra yajvinaḥ dānāni cātra dīyante paralokārtham ādarāt

Translation

Here ascetics perform tapas; here sacrificers pour oblations into the sacred fire; and here, with reverent care, gifts are given for the sake of the world beyond.

Word by Word

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• तप्यन्ति: practice (perform)
• तप्यन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• यतयः: ascetics
• यतयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• जुह्वते: offer (in fire)
• जुह्वते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

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

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

• यज्विनः: sacrificers
• यज्विनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; यजमान/यज्ञकर्ता

• दानानि: gifts (charities)
• दानानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

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

• दीयन्ते: are given
• दीयन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• परलोकार्थम्: for the sake of the next world
• परलोकार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परलोक + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष (परलोकस्य अर्थः)

• आदरात्: out of reverence
• आदरात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause/ablative of reason)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Why Bhārata-varṣa is spiritually preeminent within Jambūdvīpa

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhārata is characterized by disciplined action—tapas, yajña, and dāna—performed with higher intent aimed at the hereafter and spiritual fruition.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Sanctify daily duties: add restraint (tapas), offering (yajña/bhāva), and giving (dāna) with a clear spiritual intention rather than mere social display.

Vishishtadvaita: Actions become worship when offered to the Lord as the inner ruler and goal; karmas are real and can be consecrated as service within His order.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Ascetics (Yatis)
• Sacrificers (Yajvins)

FAQs

What is the significance of tapas, yajña, and dāna in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents them as the three principal dharmic disciplines—ascetic effort, sacrificial worship, and charitable giving—performed to generate merit aimed at higher realms (paraloka).

How does Sage Parāśara explain the purpose of religious acts in this context?

He emphasizes intention and reverence: the practices are done “ādarāt” (with respectful care) and oriented toward transcendent results rather than mere worldly gain.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Even when not named in the verse, the Purana’s framework treats dharma and its fruits as functioning within the cosmic order ultimately grounded in Viṣṇu as the Supreme sustaining reality.