Shloka 7

Devanagari script

शिष्यान् आह च भोः शिष्या ब्रह्महत्यापहं व्रतम् चरध्वं मत्कृते सर्वे न विचार्यम् इदं तथा

Transliteration

śiṣyān āha ca bhoḥ śiṣyā brahmahatyāpahaṃ vratam caradhvaṃ matkṛte sarve na vicāryam idaṃ tathā

Translation

He then addressed his disciples: “O disciples, undertake on my behalf the vow that removes the sin of brahma-slaying. All of you must observe it for my sake; do not hesitate or debate this matter.”

Word by Word

• शिष्यान्: disciples
• शिष्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• भोः: O!
• भोः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भोः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• शिष्याः: disciples
• शिष्याः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे प्रथमा (addressing)

• ब्रह्महत्यापहम्: removing the sin of brahma-slaughter
• ब्रह्महत्यापहम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या (प्रातिपदिक) + अपह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्महत्यायाः अपहः = remover of brahma-slaughter sin)

• व्रतम्: vow, penance
• व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चरध्वम्: practice/undertake (you all)
• चरध्वम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• मत्कृते: for my sake
• मत्कृते: Hetu/Purpose (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कृते (कृदन्त/अव्ययीभावप्रयोग)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोगः; ‘कृते’ (कृ + क्त) सप्तमी-एकवचन-रूपेण ‘हेतोः/for the sake of’ अर्थे; मत्-सम्बन्धः

• सर्वे: all (of you)
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• विचार्यम्: to be deliberated/considered
• विचार्यम्: Kriya (Predicate complement/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चर् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्यतार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘विचार्यम्’ = to be considered

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma/Topic (Object/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Manner (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थक (thus/so)

Speaker

A teacher/guru addressing his disciples (śiṣyāḥ) within the Purāṇic narrative; overall narration traditionally framed by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How sin (especially brahmahatyā) is expiated within dharma through prescribed vows and delegated penance

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Grave sin is addressed through dharma-śāstric prāyaścitta (vows/austerities), undertaken with resolve and obedience to rightful instruction.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When harm is done, accept responsibility, seek appropriate restitution/atonement, and submit ego to ethical discipline.

Vishishtadvaita: Karmic order functions under the Lord’s governance; prāyaścitta is a dharmic means to reduce bondage and restore sattva for bhakti.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Characters & Entities

• Disciples (Śiṣyāḥ)
• Brahmahatyā (sin of Brahmin-slaying)
• Vrata (vow/penance)

FAQs

What is the significance of a brahmahatyā-removing vow (vrata) in the Vishnu Purana?

It illustrates how the Purāṇa frames grave wrongdoing as requiring disciplined expiation (prāyaścitta) to restore dharma and social-spiritual order.

How does the text portray the guru–disciple relationship in this verse?

The teacher commands collective observance “for my sake,” emphasizing obedience, shared responsibility, and the ethical weight of carrying out a guru’s directive.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purāṇa’s moral universe is grounded in Vishnu as the sustaining sovereign of dharma—where vows and penance function to realign beings with that cosmic order.