Shloka 35

नरक-निर्णयः, पाप-कर्म-फल-व्यवस्था, प्रायश्चित्त-क्रमः, तथा हरि-स्मरण-परमत्वम्

Devanagari script

सहस्रभागप्रथमा द्वितीयानुक्रमास् तथा सर्वे ह्य् एते महाभाग यावन् मुक्तिसमाश्रयाः

Transliteration

sahasrabhāgaprathamā dvitīyānukramās tathā sarve hy ete mahābhāga yāvan muktisamāśrayāḥ

Translation

The first is as a thousandfold portion, and the second follows it in due sequence. Thus, O greatly fortunate one, all these graded measures endure only so long as they rest upon liberation as their final refuge.

Word by Word

• सहस्रभागप्रथमाः: having the first portion as one-thousandth
• सहस्रभागप्रथमाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + भाग + प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—सहस्रस्य भागः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + प्रथम (कर्मधारय-भाव) → 'सहस्रभागप्रथम'

• द्वितीयानुक्रमाः: having the second in sequence
• द्वितीयानुक्रमाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय + अनुक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—द्वितीयः अनुक्रमः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष)

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: 'thus/so/likewise')

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संकेतक-सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• महाभाग: O great one / O fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः—महान् भागः यस्य (कर्मधारय-प्रातिपदिक)

• यावत्: as long as, until
• यावत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधिबोधक (as long as / until)

• मुक्तिसमाश्रयाः: having liberation as their refuge/goal
• मुक्तिसमाश्रयाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति + समाश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—मुक्तेः समाश्रयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Relative measures/gradations of states and their dependence on mokṣa as the ultimate end

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All graded attainments and measures are meaningful only insofar as they culminate in mokṣa, which is their final refuge and interpretive key.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Treat worldly and even heavenly achievements as provisional; orient sādhanā toward liberation through steady devotion and discernment.

Vishishtadvaita: Mokṣa is not mere cessation but a positive ‘āśraya’ grounded in the Supreme; all states derive significance from their relation to Him.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Moksha (Mukti)
• Parashara
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of graded measures or stages mentioned in this verse in the Vishnu Purana?

It presents spiritual progress as ordered gradations, but emphasizes that every stage is meaningful only insofar as it culminates in moksha.

How does Sage Parashara explain the relationship between sequential attainment and liberation?

He frames attainment as anukrama (a sequence), yet declares liberation to be the ultimate support and endpoint that gives the sequence its purpose.

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

In Vaishnava reading, moksha is not merely an abstract state but the soul’s final dependence upon and refuge in the Supreme—Vishnu—who grounds and completes all spiritual striving.