Shloka 1

पुंसां क्रिया-विभागः, संस्काराः, नामकरणम्, विवाहविधानम्

Devanagari script

कथितं चातुराश्रम्यं चातुर्वर्ण्यक्रियास् तथा पुंसः क्रियाम् अहं श्रोतुम् इच्छामि द्विजसत्तम

Transliteration

kathitaṃ cāturāśramyaṃ cāturvarṇyakriyās tathā puṃsaḥ kriyām ahaṃ śrotum icchāmi dvijasattama

Translation

You have explained the order of the four āśramas, and likewise the prescribed observances of the four varṇas. Now, O best of the twice-born, I wish to hear from you the rites and duties that pertain to a person.

Word by Word

• कथितम्: has been described
• कथितम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथ् (धातु) → कथित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (impersonal/passive sense: 'has been told')

• चातुराश्रम्यम्: the system of four āśramas
• चातुराश्रम्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + य (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (द्विगु-भावार्थ: 'four āśramas' + तद्धित)

• चातुर्वर्ण्य-क्रियाः: duties/rites of the four varṇas
• चातुर्वर्ण्य-क्रियाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चातुर्वर्ण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी: 'चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य क्रियाः')

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'also')

• पुंसः: of a man
• पुंसः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• क्रियाम्: practice/duty
• क्रियाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); अव्ययभाव; 'to hear'

• इच्छामि: desire/wish
• इच्छामि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विज-सत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विज-सत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय ('श्रेष्ठः द्विजः')

Speaker

Maitreya (addressing Sage Parāśara)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: After āśrama and varṇa duties, request for ‘puṃsaḥ kriyā’—general human rites/duties ordering life in dharma (saṃskāras/ācāra)

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: inquisitive

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Sage Parāśara
• Dvija (twice-born)

FAQs

What is the significance of varṇa and āśrama dharma in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames varṇa-āśrama as an organized path of duties and stages of life, preparing the listener to understand the specific rites (kriyā) that uphold dharma and social-cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain prescribed human duties (puṃsaḥ kriyā)?

Maitreya’s request signals a structured exposition: after outlining the four āśramas and four varṇas, Parāśara proceeds to detail the concrete rites and obligations that operationalize dharma in daily life.

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

Even when the verse focuses on social and ritual duty, the Vishnu Purana treats dharma as part of Vishnu’s sustaining order—human rites and conduct align life with the Supreme Lord’s governance of the world.