Shloka 78

सूर्यरथ-कालचक्र-आयनविभागः, संध्योपासनम्, देवयान-पितृयानम्, विष्णुपद-गङ्गावतरणम्

Devanagari script

तदैव विषुवाख्यो वै कालः पुण्यो ऽभिधीयते तदा दानानि देयानि देवेभ्यः प्रयतात्मभिः

Transliteration

tadaiva viṣuvākhyo vai kālaḥ puṇyo 'bhidhīyate tadā dānāni deyāni devebhyaḥ prayatātmabhiḥ

Translation

At that very time, the sacred season known as Viṣuva is proclaimed supremely meritorious; then, with disciplined mind, one should offer gifts dedicated to the Devas.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (Temporal connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle; emphasis)

• विषुवाख्यः: called ‘Viṣuva’ (equinox)
• विषुवाख्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषुव (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विषुव इति आख्या यस्य)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle; assertion)

• कालः: time/season
• कालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• पुण्यः: holy/meritorious
• पुण्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (कालः)

• अभिधीयते: is called/is designated
• अभिधीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) + अभि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive sense)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (Temporal connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal adverb)

• दानानि: gifts/charities
• दानानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचनम्

• देयानि: to be given/should be given
• देयानि: Vidhyartha (Obligation/विध्यर्थ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तम् (gerundive/obligatory); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचनम्; दानानि इति विशेषणम्

• देवेभ्यः: to the gods
• देवेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थीविभक्तिः (4th/चतुर्थी), बहुवचनम्

• प्रयतात्मभिः: by those of disciplined self
• प्रयतात्मभिः: Karana (Instrument/कर्ता-साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (प्रयतः आत्मा येषाम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Meritorious timing (Viṣuva) and the proper performance of dāna to devas

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: At the auspicious Viṣuva, disciplined giving to the devas becomes a potent dharmic act aligned with cosmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Choose intentional times for generosity; give with mindfulness, purity of means, and dedication beyond ego.

Vishishtadvaita: Ritual action offered in alignment with cosmic order is service to the Lord’s administration (niyama) of the universe.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Dasya (servant)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Kāla (Sacred Time)
• Viṣuva

FAQs

What is the significance of Viṣuva in the Vishnu Purana?

The verse declares Viṣuva to be a specially meritorious sacred time, when dharmic acts like charity yield heightened spiritual fruit because they align with cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the right way to give charity here?

He emphasizes inner discipline—gifts should be offered by the self-controlled (prayatātmabhiḥ), indicating that purity of intent is essential to the act’s merit.

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

Though not named in the verse, the teaching fits the Purāṇa’s framework where sacred time and the Devas function within an order ultimately sustained by Vishnu as the Supreme Reality.