Shloka 40

नग्न-परिभाषा तथा देव-स्तोत्रपूर्वक मायामोह-उत्पत्ति

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

Devanagari script

तम् उपायम् अशेषात्मन्न् अस्माकं दातुम् अर्हसि येन तान् असुरान् हन्तुं भवेम भगवन् क्षमाः

Transliteration

tam upāyam aśeṣātmann asmākaṃ dātum arhasi yena tān asurān hantuṃ bhavema bhagavan kṣamāḥ

Translation

O Lord—You who are the Self of all without remainder—be pleased to grant us that means by which we may be able to slay those Asuras. O Blessed One, make us capable of accomplishing it.

Word by Word

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• upāyam: means/strategy
• upāyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• aśeṣātman: O all-pervading Self
• aśeṣātman: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśeṣa-ātman (प्रातिपदिक; अशेष + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (aśeṣaḥ ātmā)

• asmākam: of us/for us
• asmākam: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• dātum: to give
• dātum: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (infinitive)

• arhasi: you ought/are fit
• arhasi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (अर्ह्)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• yena: by which
• yena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• asurān: asuras/demons
• asurān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• hantum: to kill
• hantum: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (हन्)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (infinitive)

• bhavema: we may become/be
• bhavema: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन

• bhagavan: O Lord
• bhagavan: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• kṣamāḥ: capable/competent
• kṣamāḥ: Karta (Predicate nominative/विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

Speaker

The Devas (gods), petitioning the Supreme Lord (Vishnu)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The devas confess dependence on the all-Self Lord and seek a divinely granted upāya (means), showing that success in dharma requires His sanction and grace.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When facing entrenched obstacles, combine effort with prayerful surrender—seek the right means rather than forcing outcomes through egoic strength.

Vishishtadvaita: Embodies prapatti-like dependence: jīvas act, but efficacy and ‘ability’ (kṣamatā) are granted by the indwelling Lord.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas
• Asuras

FAQs

What is the significance of calling Vishnu 'aśeṣātman' in the Vishnu Purana?

It affirms Vishnu as the all-pervading Supreme Self underlying all beings, emphasizing that divine power and guidance are the ultimate basis for restoring dharma.

How does the Vishnu Purana present the Devas’ dependence on Vishnu in such conflicts?

The Devas explicitly ask Vishnu for the upāya (effective means), showing that victory is not merely martial strength but divinely granted capability aligned with cosmic order.

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

Vishnu is portrayed as the sovereign enabler: the Devas seek not only a plan but the Lord’s empowering grace, reflecting core Vaishnava doctrine of supreme divine agency.