Shloka 56

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

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

Devanagari script

होमैर् जपैस् तथा दानैर् उपवासैश् च भक्तितः पूजाभिश् चानुदिवसं तन्मना नान्यमानसः

Transliteration

homair japais tathā dānair upavāsaiś ca bhaktitaḥ pūjābhiś cānudivasaṃ tanmanā nānyamānasaḥ

Translation

With devotion—by fire-offerings, recitation, gifts, and fasts—and by daily worship, let one remain wholly absorbed in Him alone, the mind fixed on Him, admitting no other thought.

Word by Word

• होमैः: by sacrifices/oblations
• होमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• जपैः: by recitations
• जपैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise, and also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• दानैः: by gifts, by charity
• दानैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• उपवासैः: by fasts
• उपवासैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

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

• भक्तितः: out of devotion, due to devotion
• भक्तितः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणार्थे (ablative of cause)

• पूजाभिः: by acts of worship
• पूजाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

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

• अनुदिवसम्: day by day, daily
• अनुदिवसम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तन्मनाः: with mind fixed on Him
• तन्मनाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'whose mind is on that (Vishnu)'

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation particle)

• अन्यमानसः: not having his mind elsewhere
• अन्यमानसः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मानस्/मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'having another mind' (i.e., distracted)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: What constitutes steady devotion: ritual, austerity, charity, and above all exclusive mind-fixation on the Lord.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotional life integrates karma (homa, dāna, upavāsa) with japa and pūjā, crowned by ekāgratā—mind fixed on Him alone.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Choose a simple daily sādhana set (japa + brief pūjā + some charity/fasting) and protect it with single-tasked attention (no ‘other-mindedness’).

Vishishtadvaita: Karma becomes bhakti when offered to the personal Lord; exclusivity of attention reflects śaraṇāgati-like dependence on Nārāyaṇa.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of daily worship practices (homa, japa, dāna, upavāsa) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents them as integrated disciplines of devotion that steady the mind and make remembrance of Vishnu continuous, turning ritual and ethics into a unified bhakti-sadhana.

How does Sage Parāśara explain single-minded devotion (ananya-bhakti) here?

He emphasizes a mind fixed solely on Vishnu—“tanmanā nānyamānasaḥ”—where all practices are meant to culminate in undistracted, exclusive God-centered awareness.

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

Vishnu is treated as the highest refuge and ultimate goal: devotion is not merely a method but a direct orientation toward the Supreme Reality, sustained through daily acts and inner absorption.