Shloka 3

नग्न-परिभाषा तथा देव-स्तोत्रपूर्वक मायामोह-उत्पत्ति

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

Devanagari script

षण्डापविद्धप्रमुखा विदिता भगवन् मया उदक्याद्याश् च ये सर्वे नग्नम् इच्छामि वेदितुम्

Transliteration

ṣaṇḍāpaviddhapramukhā viditā bhagavan mayā udakyādyāś ca ye sarve nagnam icchāmi veditum

Translation

O venerable one, I have understood those headed by the ṣaṇḍa and the āpaviddha, and also all such as the udakyā and the rest. Now I wish to know about the ‘nagna’.

Word by Word

• षण्डापविद्धप्रमुखाः: those whose leaders are the eunuchs and the outcast (etc.)
• षण्डापविद्धप्रमुखाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + अपविद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिसमासः—“षण्डाः अपविद्धाः (ये) प्रमुखाः” इति

• विदिताः: known
• विदिताः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु) → विदित (कृदन्त, क्त/PPP)
• Form: क्तप्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘known/understood’

• भगवन्: O Lord
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• उदक्याद्याः: and those beginning with the ‘udakyā’ (etc.)
• उदक्याद्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (आदिः=etc.)—“उदक्याः आदयः”

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

• ये: who/which
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (relative pronoun)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘ye’)

• नग्नम्: the ‘naked’ (state/term)
• नग्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नग्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• वेदितुम्: to know
• वेदितुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु) → वेदितुम् (तुमुन्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive); प्रयोजन/उद्देश्यार्थे (purpose)

Speaker

Maitreya (questioning Sage Parāśara)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: Definition and doctrinal meaning of the category termed 'nagna' after learning other categories (ṣaṇḍa, āpaviddha, udakyā etc.).

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: inquisitive; seeking precise dharma-classification

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Sage Parāśara

FAQs

What is the significance of ‘nagna’ in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, ‘nagna’ is presented as a specific category to be defined within a larger list of social/ritual classifications; Maitreya asks Parāśara to explain its meaning and implications for dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain such classifications in the dialogue structure?

Maitreya first confirms what he has already understood (ṣaṇḍa, āpaviddha, udakyā, etc.) and then requests the next definition; Parāśara’s teaching typically proceeds by enumerating and clarifying categories to guide correct conduct.

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

Even when discussing social and ritual order, the Vishnu Purana frames dharma as part of the cosmic order upheld under Vishnu’s supreme governance—right conduct supports stability in the world that functions by His will.