Shloka 5

मायामोह-प्रवर्तन, वेदमार्ग-बहिष्कार, तथा पाषण्ड-संसर्ग-दोषः

Māyāmoha’s Delusion, Rejection of the Vedic Path, and the Fault of Heretical Association

Devanagari script

कुरुध्वं मम वाक्यानि यदि मुक्तिम् अभीप्सथ अर्हध्वं धर्मम् एतं च मुक्तिद्वारम् असंवृतम्

Transliteration

kurudhvaṃ mama vākyāni yadi muktim abhīpsatha arhadhvaṃ dharmam etaṃ ca muktidvāram asaṃvṛtam

Translation

If you truly long for liberation, then carry out my words. Honor this dharma—for it is an open, unobstructed gateway to moksha.

Word by Word

• कुरुध्वम्: do, carry out
• कुरुध्वम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वाक्यानि: words, instructions
• वाक्यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional conjunction)

• मुक्तिम्: liberation
• मुक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अभीप्सथ: you desire, seek
• अभीप्सथ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-इष्/ईप्स् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अर्हध्वम्: be fit for / undertake / deserve
• अर्हध्वम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteous duty
• धर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• एतम्: this
• एतम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (धर्मम्)

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

• मुक्तिद्वारम्: the gate to liberation
• मुक्तिद्वारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुक्तेः द्वारम्)

• असंवृतम्: unclosed, unobstructed
• असंवृतम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-सम्-वृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle) with नञ्-प्रत्यय; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (मुक्तिद्वारम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya, presenting dharma as the practical means toward moksha)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mokṣa is approached through honoring dharma as the unobstructed doorway, implying disciplined life aligned with the Supreme.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Adopt a stable daily dharmic routine (truthfulness, non-injury, purity, self-control) and make it an offering to Vishnu to keep the ‘gate’ open.

Vishishtadvaita: Liberation is accessed through dharma lived as service to the Supreme Lord, not by self-powered isolation—hinting at grace operating through ordained means.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of dharma as an “open gate” to moksha in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames dharma not as a mere social rule but as a direct, accessible passage to liberation—something available to those who earnestly practice it.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the practical route to liberation here?

He emphasizes obedience and lived practice—“do my words”—indicating that moksha is approached through disciplined conduct and reverence for dharma, not theory alone.

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

Even without naming Vishnu explicitly, the verse reflects Vaishnava theology: dharma is meaningful because it aligns life with the supreme order sustained by Vishnu, culminating in liberation.