Shloka 9

पुंसां क्रिया-विभागः, संस्काराः, नामकरणम्, विवाहविधानम्

Devanagari script

शर्मेति ब्राह्मणस्योक्तं वर्मेति क्षत्रसंश्रयम् गुप्तदासात्मकं नाम प्रशस्तं वैश्यशूद्रयोः

Transliteration

śarmeti brāhmaṇasyoktaṃ varmeti kṣatrasaṃśrayam guptadāsātmakaṃ nāma praśastaṃ vaiśyaśūdrayoḥ

Translation

‘Śarma’ is declared as the proper appellation for a Brāhmaṇa; ‘Varma’ is said to belong to those established in Kṣatriya status. Names formed with ‘Gupta’ and ‘Dāsa’ are praised as fitting for Vaiśyas and Śūdras.

Word by Word

• शर्म: (the suffix) -śarman
• शर्म: उद्देश्य/निर्देश (quoted element)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); उद्धृत-प्रत्ययवत् (as quoted name-element)

• इति: thus; as
• इति: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• ब्राह्मणस्य: of a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणस्य: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• उक्तम्: is prescribed/said
• उक्तम्: क्रिया-विशेष (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg); भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः (stated/said)

• वर्म: (the suffix) -varman
• वर्म: उद्देश्य/निर्देश (quoted element)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); उद्धृत-प्रत्ययवत्

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• क्षत्र-संश्रयम्: pertaining to Kshatriyas
• क्षत्र-संश्रयम्: विशेषण (predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg); समासः: क्षत्रसंश्रय = 'belonging to/associated with Kṣatriyas'

• गुप्त-दास-आत्मकम्: of the form (suffixes) -gupta and -dāsa
• गुप्त-दास-आत्मकम्: विशेषण (qualifier of nāma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्त (प्रातिपदिक) + दास (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg); समासः: गुप्तदासात्मक = 'having the nature/form of (suffixes) gupta and dāsa'

• नाम: name
• नाम: उद्देश्य/कर्म (name; subject/object by context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg)

• प्रशस्तम्: approved; commendable
• प्रशस्तम्: विशेषण (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-शंस् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg)

• वैश्य-शूद्रयोः: for the Vaiśya and Śūdra
• वैश्य-शूद्रयोः: सम्बन्ध (for whom/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक) + शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual); द्वन्द्व-समासः: वैश्यशूद्र = 'Vaiśya and Śūdra'

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Varṇa-appropriate naming conventions: suffixes (śarman/varman/gupta/dāsa) and their social-dharmic fit

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Names should align with varṇa-dharma conventions, signaling one’s societal role and the responsibilities attached to it.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat social identifiers (including names/titles) as reminders of duty and integrity rather than status; prioritize meaning and ethical conduct over mere label.

Vishishtadvaita: By integrating dharma into daily conventions, the text frames social life as a field for God-centered order, where roles become modes of service rather than separative ego.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Kṣatriya
• Vaiśya

FAQs

What is the significance of naming conventions (nāma-vidhi) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents traditional name-suffixes aligned with the four varnas, treating naming as a dharmic marker that supports social order within Vishnu’s sustaining cosmic governance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain social identifiers in this context?

Parāśara lists approved suffixes—Śarma for Brāhmaṇas, Varma for Kṣatriyas, and Gupta/Dāsa for Vaiśyas and Śūdras—framing them as customary, ‘praśasta’ (commended) conventions.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here, even though He is not named?

In the Vishnu Purana’s worldview, dharma and orderly social function are expressions of Vishnu’s preservative sovereignty; such conventions are presented as part of the structure that maintains harmony in the world.