Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

वासुदेवे मनो यस्य जपहोमार्चनादिषु तस्यान्तरायो मैत्रेय देवेन्द्रत्वादिकं फलम्

Transliteration

vāsudeve mano yasya japahomārcanādiṣu tasyāntarāyo maitreya devendratvādikaṃ phalam

Translation

Maitreya, for one whose mind is fixed on Vāsudeva through japa, fire-offerings, worship, and the like, even rewards such as Indra-hood become obstacles on that path.

Word by Word

• वासुदेवे: in/with regard to Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/अधिकरण (7th case), एकवचन

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध (6th case), एकवचन

• जप-होम-अर्चन-आदिषु: in (acts like) japa, homa, worship, etc.
• जप-होम-अर्चन-आदिषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक) + होम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक; √अर्च् धातु) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/अधिकरण (7th case), बहुवचन; समासः द्वन्द्वः (जपः च होमः च अर्चनं च) + 'आदि' (etc.)

• तस्य: for him/of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध (6th case), एकवचन

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

• मैत्रेय: O Maitreya
• मैत्रेय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/आह्वान (8th case), एकवचन

• देवेन्द्रत्व-आदिकम्: Indra-hood and the like
• देवेन्द्रत्व-आदिकम्: Visheshya (Predicate nominal/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित-प्रत्यय; भाव) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (देवेन्द्रत्वम्) + 'आदि' (etc.)

• फलम्: (is) the result
• फलम्: Visheshya (Predicate nominal/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How ritual acts (japa, homa, arcana) become mokṣa-oriented when fixed on Vāsudeva; why even Indra-hood obstructs

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When the mind is absorbed in Vāsudeva through japa, homa, and arcana, even the highest karmic fruits like Indra-hood are impediments to liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Perform worship and discipline as offerings to Vāsudeva (niṣkāma), watching for subtle ‘spiritual ambition’ for status or celestial reward.

Vishishtadvaita: Karmas become liberative when subordinated to Vāsudeva-bhakti; the Lord is the supreme end beyond all celestial offices.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Vyuha Form: Vasudeva

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Vishnu)
• Maitreya
• Indra (Devendra)

FAQs

What is the significance of Indra-hood (devendratva) being called an obstacle in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse teaches that even the highest heavenly status is still a temporary karmic reward; for a devotee focused on Vāsudeva, such rewards distract from the supreme goal of liberation and unbroken God-remembrance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the value of japa, homa, and arcana in this context?

Parāśara presents these practices as effective when they are anchored in single-minded devotion to Vāsudeva; their purpose is not merely merit or heaven, but steadying the mind in the Supreme.

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

Vishnu (Vāsudeva) is portrayed as the highest end—so complete that even divine sovereignty within the cosmos (like Indra’s post) is secondary and potentially obstructive to the devotee’s ultimate realization.