Shloka 26

मेरु-प्रमाणम्, सप्त-पाताल-वर्णनम्, तथा अनन्त-शेष-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

यम् आराध्य पुराणर्षिर् गर्गो ज्योतींषि तत्त्वतः ज्ञातवान् सकलं चैव निमित्तपठितं फलम्

Transliteration

yam ārādhya purāṇarṣir gargo jyotīṃṣi tattvataḥ jñātavān sakalaṃ caiva nimittapaṭhitaṃ phalam

Translation

Having worshipped Him, the ancient seer Garga came to know the science of the luminaries in its true principles, and also the entire fruit that arises from reading and interpreting omens.

Word by Word

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + राध् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having worshipped/propitiated’

• पुराण: ancient
• पुराण: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• ऋषिः: sage
• ऋषिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समस्तपद (पुराणर्षिः)

• गर्गः: Garga
• गर्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ज्योतींषि: luminaries, astral bodies
• ज्योतींषि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• तत्त्वतः: truly, in reality
• तत्त्वतः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘in truth/accurately’)

• ज्ञातवान्: came to know, knew
• ज्ञातवान्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + क्तवत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवत्-कृदन्त (perfect participle, active), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; परोक्षभूतार्थे (has come to know)

• सकलम्: entire, complete
• सकलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (फलम्)

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

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• निमित्त: omens, indications
• निमित्त: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (निमित्तस्य पठितम्); समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• पठितम्: read/recited (as) omens
• पठितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पठ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समस्तपद (निमित्तपठितम्); विशेषण (फलम्)

• फलम्: result, fruit
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Praising the Lord as the source of all vidyās; continuation of Ananta/Viṣṇu glorification within cosmographic narration

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Through worship of Viṣṇu, even profound sciences are known in their true principles, and their proper fruits are understood.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Anchor learning and skill in sādhana: begin study with prayer and align interpretation with dharma to avoid superstition and ego.

Vishishtadvaita: Knowledge is a grace-mediated participation: the Lord, as inner ruler and source, enables finite knowers to grasp truths according to their capacity.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva (devotional)

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Sage Garga

FAQs

What is the significance of Jyotiṣa (astral science) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames jyotiṣa as ultimately grounded in devotion to Vishnu: true knowledge of the luminaries and omens arises when the divine source of cosmic order is worshipped.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the basis of interpreting omens (nimitta)?

Parāśara presents omen-reading as meaningful only when its principles are known “tattvataḥ”—in truth—implying a theistic foundation where Vishnu governs the order that omens signify.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu is shown as the Supreme Reality who empowers sages with authentic insight into cosmic law; even technical disciplines like astrology and omenology are portrayed as dependent on His grace.