Shloka 34

सदाचार-नियमाः: शील, संयम, संग-निषेध, शुचिता, वाणी-नीति, परोपकारः

Devanagari script

हितं मितं प्रियं काले वश्यात्मा यो ऽभिभाषते स याति लोकान् आह्लादहेतुभूतान् नृपाक्षयान्

Transliteration

hitaṃ mitaṃ priyaṃ kāle vaśyātmā yo 'bhibhāṣate sa yāti lokān āhlādahetubhūtān nṛpākṣayān

Translation

He whose self is mastered—who speaks what is beneficial, measured, and pleasing, and who speaks it at the proper time—attains enduring royal worlds, realms that become the very cause of delight.

Word by Word

• हितम्: beneficial
• हितम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित (कृदन्त; √धा (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally)

• मितम्: measured
• मितम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मित (कृदन्त; √मा (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• प्रियम्: pleasant
• प्रियम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• काले: at the right time
• काले: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• वश्यात्मा: one with a controlled self
• वश्यात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश्य-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक: वश्य + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: वश्यात्मन् (बहुव्रीहि: 'one whose self is controlled')

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अभिभाषते: speaks
• अभिभाषते: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + √भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg. present)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd sg. present)

• लोकान्: worlds
• लोकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• आह्लादहेतुभूतान्: which are causes of joy
• आह्लादहेतुभूतान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आह्लाद-हेतु-भूत (प्रातिपदिक: आह्लाद + हेतु + भूत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः: आह्लादहेतुभूत (तत्पुरुष: 'become the cause of delight')

• नृपाक्षयान्: imperishable (O king)
• नृपाक्षयान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृप-अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक: नृप + अक्षय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः: नृपाक्षय (तत्पुरुष: 'imperishable, O king')—अत्र 'नृप' सम्बोधनार्थक-उपपदवत् प्रयोग

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya, within a dharma/royal-ethics discourse)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: ethical discipline of speech (hita-mita-priya-kāla) and self-mastery as causes of higher attainments

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: didactic and motivational

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mastery of self expressed through timely speech that is beneficial, measured, and pleasing leads to enduring, delight-giving realms.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice mindful speech: truth that helps, brevity, kindness, and timing—especially in conflict and leadership.

Vishishtadvaita: Ethical restraint becomes a form of worshipful alignment with the Lord’s order, preparing the self for higher states.

Characters & Entities

• Kings
• Sage Parasara
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of speaking 'hita, mita, priya' in the Vishnu Purana?

The verse presents disciplined speech—beneficial, measured, pleasing, and timely—as a direct dharmic cause for attaining auspicious and enduring realms, linking everyday conduct to cosmic moral order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain self-control in this context?

By describing the ideal speaker as vaśyātmā (self-mastered), Parāśara frames restraint of mind and speech as practical dharma that yields stable, elevating results.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Even without naming Vishnu explicitly, the teaching reflects Vishnu Purana’s core vision: dharma sustains the ordered universe governed by the Supreme, and righteous conduct harmonizes the individual with that sovereign order.