Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

विष्णुसंस्मरणात् क्षीणसमस्तक्लेशसंचयः मुक्तिं प्रयाति स्वर्गाप्तिस् तस्य विघ्नो ऽनुमीयते

Transliteration

viṣṇusaṃsmaraṇāt kṣīṇasamastakleśasaṃcayaḥ muktiṃ prayāti svargāptis tasya vighno 'numīyate

Translation

By constant remembrance of Vishnu, the whole accumulated mass of afflictions is worn away. Such a devotee attains liberation; whereas the attainment of heaven is understood to be an obstacle on that path.

Word by Word

• विष्णु-संस्मरणात्: from the remembrance of Vishnu
• विष्णु-संस्मरणात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्मरण (प्रातिपदिक; √स्मृ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी/अपादान (5th case), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः संस्मरणम्) + तस्मात् (ablative) = 'विष्णुसंस्मरणात्'

• क्षीण-समस्त-क्लेश-संचयः: (he) whose entire store of afflictions is exhausted
• क्षीण-समस्त-क्लेश-संचयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीण (कृदन्त; √क्षि धातु, भूतकृदन्त) + समस्त (कृदन्त/विशेषण) + क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक) + संचय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः बहु-तत्पुरुषः (समस्तानां क्लेशानां संचयः; तस्य क्षीणः) — 'one whose accumulation of all afflictions is exhausted' (समासान्त-प्रातिपदिक)

• मुक्तिम्: liberation
• मुक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/कर्म (2nd case), एकवचन

• प्रयाति: attains/goes to
• प्रयाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्वर्ग-आप्तिः: attainment of heaven
• स्वर्ग-आप्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आप्ति (प्रातिपदिक; √आप् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वर्गस्य आप्तिः)

• तस्य: of that (i.e., of it/that attainment)
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध (6th case), एकवचन

• विघ्नः: an obstacle
• विघ्नः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• अनुमीयते: is inferred
• अनुमीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मा (धातु) + अनु (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense): 'is inferred'

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Superiority of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa over svarga as a goal; obstacles to mokṣa

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Constant remembrance of Viṣṇu erodes all kleśas and leads to mokṣa, while even svarga is a hindrance because it binds one to finite reward.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Prioritize daily nāma-smaraṇa and reframe spiritual practice away from ‘reward-seeking’ toward liberation-oriented devotion.

Vishishtadvaita: Mokṣa is attained through Viṣṇu-centered bhakti (smaraṇa) rather than merely karmic merit; finite heavens are subordinate to communion with the Lord.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Svarga (Heaven)
• Moksha (Liberation)

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu-smaraṇa (remembrance of Vishnu) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse states that remembering Vishnu exhausts the entire accumulation of afflictions (kleśas), making it a direct purifier leading toward moksha.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the difference between svarga (heaven) and moksha (liberation)?

Parāśara frames svarga as a lesser, temporary attainment that can distract the seeker, while moksha is the final freedom reached through devotion-centered remembrance of Vishnu.

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

Vishnu is presented as the supreme refuge and final goal: communion with Him (moksha) surpasses all karmic rewards, even celestial heaven.