Shloka 10

यजुर्वेदशाखाः, याज्ञवल्क्य–वैशम्पायनसंवादः, सूर्यस्तुतिः

Yajurveda branches and Yājñavalkya’s solar revelation

Devanagari script

निस्तेजसो वदस्य् एतान् यस् त्वं ब्राह्मणपुंगवान् तेन शिष्येण नार्थो ऽस्ति ममाज्ञाभङ्गकारिणा

Transliteration

nistejaso vadasy etān yas tvaṃ brāhmaṇapuṃgavān tena śiṣyeṇa nārtho 'sti mamājñābhaṅgakāriṇā

Translation

You speak as though bereft of spiritual splendor—yet you are foremost among brāhmaṇas. I have no need of a disciple who breaks my command and violates discipline.

Word by Word

• निस्तेजसः: devoid of energy
• निस्तेजसः: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘निः’ उपसर्गपूर्वक-निषेधार्थ (without vigor)

• वदसि: you speak
• वदसि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान/Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणपुंगवान्: foremost among Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणपुंगवान्: Karta (Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + पुंगव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्राह्मणानां पुंगवः = bull/foremost among Brahmins)

• तेन: with/by him
• तेन: Karana/Association (Instrument/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिष्येण: with (such) a disciple
• शिष्येण: Karana/Association (Instrument/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Negation
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• अर्थः: need, purpose
• अर्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• आज्ञाभङ्गकारिणा: by one who breaks (my) command
• आज्ञाभङ्गकारिणा: Karana/Association qualifier
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + भङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आज्ञायाः भङ्गः तं करोति इति)

Speaker

A preceptor (guru/elder Brahmin authority figure) addressing his disciple (contextual reprimand within the narrative frame of dharma and discipline)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Guru’s final rejection of a disobedient disciple and the principle that brilliance (tejas) must be yoked to obedience (ājñā-pālana)

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Spiritual excellence without śiṣya-dharma (obedience and restraint) is unfit for the guru’s lineage; discipline is integral to true learning.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Pair talent with humility and accountability; respect institutional and ethical boundaries in learning and leadership.

Vishishtadvaita: In Viśiṣṭādvaita, jñāna serves bhakti and prapatti; ego-driven autonomy (ājñā-bhaṅga) undermines the servant-nature (śeṣatva) central to devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmin
• Disciple
• Guru (implied)

FAQs

What is the significance of guru–śiṣya discipline in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse underscores that spiritual learning is inseparable from discipline; violating a teacher’s command disrupts dharma and makes the disciple unfit for instruction.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame the idea of ājñā (command) in dharmic life?

Here, ājñā is treated as a binding ethical directive within a sacred hierarchy; breaking it is portrayed as a serious fault that nullifies the teacher–student relationship.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s worldview links social order and rightful authority to cosmic order ultimately grounded in the Supreme Lord; dharma functions as Vishnu’s sustaining principle.