Shloka 29

Devanagari script

ज्ञेया ब्रह्मर्षयः पूर्वं तेभ्यो देवर्षयः पुनः राजर्षयः पुनस् तेभ्य ऋषिप्रकृतयस् त्रयः

Transliteration

jñeyā brahmarṣayaḥ pūrvaṃ tebhyo devarṣayaḥ punaḥ rājarṣayaḥ punas tebhya ṛṣiprakṛtayas trayaḥ

Translation

Know first the Brahmarṣis; from them are understood the Devarṣis, the divine sages; and from them again the Rājarṣis, the royal sages. Thus the three fundamental classes of Ṛṣis are to be recognized.

Word by Word

• ज्ञेयाः: are to be known (as)
• ज्ञेयाः: Visheshana (Predicate qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (भाव्य/विधेय), यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be known)

• ब्रह्मर्षयः: Brahmarṣis
• ब्रह्मर्षयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; समासः—ब्रह्मणः ऋषयः (Brahman-sages); कर्ता/उद्देश्य

• पूर्वम्: first, earlier
• पूर्वम्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• तेभ्यः: from them
• तेभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), बहुवचन; अपादान (from them)

• देवर्षयः: Devarṣis
• देवर्षयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; समासः—देवानां ऋषयः (divine sages); कर्ता/उद्देश्य

• पुनः: then/again
• पुनः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb: again/then)

• राजर्षयः: Rājarṣis
• राजर्षयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; समासः—राज्ञां ऋषयः (royal sages); कर्ता/उद्देश्य

• पुनः: again/then
• पुनः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb)

• तेभ्यः: from them
• तेभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), बहुवचन; अपादान

• ऋषिप्रकृतयः: the three classes of sages
• ऋषिप्रकृतयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि + प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; समासः—ऋषीणां प्रकृतयः (classes/natures of sages); कर्ता/उद्देश्य

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (ऋषिप्रकृतयः—sense ‘three’)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Taxonomy of ṛṣis and their gradations: brahmarṣi, devarṣi, rājaṛṣi.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sagehood is recognized in graded types—brahmarṣis grounded in Brahman-realization, devarṣis with divine mission, and rājaṛṣis who unite kingship with ascetic insight.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Integrate inner realization with outer duty: whatever one’s role, cultivate self-discipline and God-centered wisdom as the mark of true nobility.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms differentiated excellence among persons while oriented to Brahman—compatible with Viśiṣṭādvaita’s real plurality of selves (cit) ordered under the Supreme.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmarṣis
• Devarṣis
• Rājarṣis
• Ṛṣis

FAQs

What is the significance of the three types of Ṛṣis in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse lays out a canonical taxonomy—Brahmarṣi, Devarṣi, and Rājarṣi—showing how spiritual insight, divine association, and righteous kingship function as recognized channels of sacred authority and dharma in the Purāṇic worldview.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the hierarchy among sages here?

Parāśara presents an ordered recognition: Brahmarṣis are primary, and from that recognized category follow Devarṣis and then Rājarṣis—indicating gradations of role and status in the tradition’s account of how wisdom and governance align with dharma.

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

Even without naming Vishnu directly, the verse supports the Vishnu Purana’s larger theology: cosmic order and right knowledge flow through divinely sanctioned structures (ṛṣis and dharmic kings), ultimately grounded in the Supreme Reality who sustains the universe—Vishnu.