Shloka 23

यजुर्वेदशाखाः, याज्ञवल्क्य–वैशम्पायनसंवादः, सूर्यस्तुतिः

Yajurveda branches and Yājñavalkya’s solar revelation

Devanagari script

स्पृष्टो यदंशुभिर् लोकः क्रियायोग्यो ऽभिजायते पवित्रताकारणाय तस्मै शुद्धात्मने नमः

Transliteration

spṛṣṭo yadaṃśubhir lokaḥ kriyāyogyo 'bhijāyate pavitratākāraṇāya tasmai śuddhātmane namaḥ

Translation

When the world is touched by His rays, it becomes fit for sacred action and right observance. Reverence to that Pure-Souled One, the very cause of purification.

Word by Word

• स्पृष्टः: touched
• स्पृष्टः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• यत्: which/when
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धबोधकं (relative)

• अंशुभिः: by (his) rays
• अंशुभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचनम्

• लोकः: the world
• लोकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• क्रियायोग्यः: fit for activity
• क्रियायोग्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (क्रियायां योग्यः)

• अभिजायते: is born/arises
• अभिजायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; धातुः जन्, उपसर्गः अभि-

• पवित्रताकारणाय: for the cause of purity
• पवित्रताकारणाय: Sampradana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्रता (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, चतुर्थी (Dative/सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पवित्रतायाः कारणम्)

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्

• शुद्धात्मने: to the pure-souled one
• शुद्धात्मने: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (शुद्धः आत्मा यस्य/शुद्ध आत्मा)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-निपातः

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya; voiced as a reverential statement within the cosmological exposition)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Sūrya’s rays as the immediate enabler of kriyā (rites) and the cause of purification

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine radiance (Sūrya’s aṃśu) transforms the world into a fit field for sacred action, indicating purification as a grace-enabled condition rather than merely mechanical ritual.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat daily practices as cooperation with grace: cultivate inner purity (truth, restraint) alongside outer observances.

Vishishtadvaita: Purification is mediated through a divine power operating in the world—supporting the Vishishtadvaita view of the universe as a real, God-pervaded field of dharma.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Surya (Sun)

FAQs

What is the significance of purification through divine radiance in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames purity not as merely external cleanliness but as a cosmic condition bestowed by the Divine—when the world is pervaded by His “rays,” it becomes qualified for dharma and sacred action.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the world becoming fit for ritual action (kriyā-yogya)?

Parāśara links cosmic order to spiritual eligibility: divine pervasion (symbolized by rays/light) enables beings and the world to participate rightly in duty, worship, and prescribed observances.

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

Vishnu is presented as the śuddhātmā—the Pure Self—and the ultimate cause behind purification; even natural agencies like sunlight point back to His sovereign, sustaining presence.