Shloka 20

Śrāddha’s Cosmic Reach and Kāla-Nirṇaya (Sacred Timings): Amāvāsyā, Nakṣatra-Yoga, Tīrtha, and Minimum Offerings

Devanagari script

चित्तं च वित्तं च नृणां विशुद्धं शस्तश् च कालः कथितो विधिश् च पात्रं यथोक्तं परमा च भक्तिर् नृणां प्रयच्छत्य् अभिवाञ्छितानि

Transliteration

cittaṃ ca vittaṃ ca nṛṇāṃ viśuddhaṃ śastaś ca kālaḥ kathito vidhiś ca pātraṃ yathoktaṃ paramā ca bhaktir nṛṇāṃ prayacchaty abhivāñchitāni

Translation

When one’s mind is purified and one’s wealth is honestly gained; when the time is auspicious and the prescribed rite is duly performed; when the recipient is worthy as taught, and devotion is supreme—then all these together bestow upon people the fruits they desire.

Word by Word

• चित्तम्: mind
• चित्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• वित्तम्: wealth
• वित्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन (plural)

• विशुद्धम्: pure
• विशुद्धम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

• शस्तः: commended/prescribed
• शस्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• कालः: time (proper time)
• कालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• कथितः: is stated/has been told
• कथितः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विधिः: rule/procedure
• विधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• पात्रम्: worthy recipient/vessel
• पात्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• यथोक्तम्: as stated
• यथोक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा + उक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (yathā-ukta = as said)

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• प्रयच्छति: bestows/grants
• प्रयच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + यम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अभिवाञ्छितानि: desired things
• अभिवाञ्छितानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि + वाञ्छित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन (plural)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya, within a dharma-oriented discourse)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Conditions that make ritual gifts/offerings efficacious: purity of mind/wealth, proper time, correct procedure, worthy recipient, and supreme devotion

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual and charity bear desired fruit when grounded in inner purity, honest means, correct timing and procedure, proper recipients, and above all sincere devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Before giving or performing rites, verify ethical sourcing, cultivate clarity of intention, choose appropriate occasions, and support genuinely worthy recipients.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti is presented as the crowning factor that perfects karma, aligning action with Bhagavān as the inner ruler of dharma.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of purity of mind and wealth in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse teaches that inner intention (citta) and the moral purity of one’s resources (vitta) are foundational; without them, ritual acts and gifts do not reliably yield the intended fruits.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of time, procedure, and recipient in dharma?

He frames dharma as a complete set: auspicious timing (kāla), scriptural method (vidhi), and a fit recipient (pātra) must align—showing that outcomes depend on both devotion and correct order.

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

Even while listing practical conditions for merit, the verse culminates in supreme bhakti, reflecting the Vishnu Purana’s Vaishnava view that devotion to the Supreme sustains and perfects dharma’s results.