Shloka 10

नग्न-परिभाषा तथा देव-स्तोत्रपूर्वक मायामोह-उत्पत्ति

Defining ‘Nagna’ and the Devas’ Hymn Leading to Māyāmoha

Devanagari script

क्षीरोदस्योत्तरं कूलं गत्वातप्यन्त वै तपः विष्णोर् आराधनार्थाय जगुश् चेमं स्तवं तदा

Transliteration

kṣīrodasyottaraṃ kūlaṃ gatvātapyanta vai tapaḥ viṣṇor ārādhanārthāya jaguś cemaṃ stavaṃ tadā

Translation

Having gone to the northern shore of the Ocean of Milk, they undertook severe austerities indeed; and for the sake of worshipping Lord Viṣṇu, they then chanted this very hymn of praise.

Word by Word

• क्षीरोदस्य: of the Milk-ocean
• क्षीरोदस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीरोद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Genitive singular

• उत्तरम्: northern
• उत्तरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Adjective agreeing with कूलम्, Neuter Accusative singular

• कूलम्: shore/bank
• कूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative singular (goal)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund)

• अतप्यन्त: they performed austerity
• अतप्यन्त: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद; Imperfect, 3rd person plural, Ātmanepada

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; emphatic particle

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative singular

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Genitive singular

• आराधनार्थाय: for the purpose of worship
• आराधनार्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आराधन + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आराधनस्य अर्थः); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान) विभक्ति, एकवचन; Tatpurusha compound, Dative singular (purpose)

• जगुः: they sang/recited
• जगुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्ण), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Perfect, 3rd person plural

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय; conjunction (and)

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Pronoun, Masculine, Accusative singular

• स्तवम्: hymn
• स्तवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative singular

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kaaladhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (then)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the devas sought Viṣṇu after defeat: austerity at the northern shore of the Kṣīroda (Milk Ocean) and chanting a hymn.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In संकट, the devas turn to disciplined tapas and stotra-upāsanā directed to Viṣṇu as the effective refuge.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Combine steadiness (tapas: disciplined practice) with heartfelt prayer (stotra) when facing adversity.

Vishishtadvaita: Models prapatti-like dependence: finite beings approach the Supreme Person for protection through worship, not self-sufficiency.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kshiroda (Ocean of Milk)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Ocean of Milk (Kṣīroda) in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse it functions as a sanctified cosmic locale: reaching its shore and undertaking tapas there emphasizes proximity to the divine order associated with Viṣṇu and the gods.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of tapas and hymn-recitation here?

Parāśara presents worship (ārādhana) as both disciplined austerity (tapas) and voiced devotion (stava), showing that inner effort and sacred praise together orient the seeker toward Viṣṇu.

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

Viṣṇu is portrayed as the supreme object of worship whose grace is sought through concentrated austerity and reverent praise, reinforcing his sovereignty as the sustaining Supreme Reality.