Shloka 13

यमस्य अधिकारभङ्गः — वैष्णवस्य लक्षणम्

Freedom from Yama through Hari-śaraṇāgati

Devanagari script

जातिस्मरेण कथितं रहस्यं परमं मम यमकिंकरयोर् यो ऽभूत् संवादस् तं ब्रवीमि ते

Transliteration

jātismareṇa kathitaṃ rahasyaṃ paramaṃ mama yamakiṃkarayor yo 'bhūt saṃvādas taṃ bravīmi te

Translation

Now I shall tell you the supremely secret teaching spoken by one who remembered former births—namely, the dialogue that occurred between Yama’s attendants; that very account I relate to you.

Word by Word

• जातिस्मरेण: by the one who remembers former births
• जातिस्मरेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जातिस्मर (प्रातिपदिक) = जाति + स्मर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (जातिं स्मरतीति)

• कथितम्: told
• कथितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) → कथित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘said/told’

• रहस्यम्: secret
• रहस्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रहस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (रहस्यम्)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• यमकिंकरयोः: of the two servants of Yama
• यमकिंकरयोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमकिंकर (प्रातिपदिक) = यम + किंकर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (यमस्य किंकरौ)

• यः: which/that (conversation)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• अभूत्: was/occurred
• अभूत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• संवादः: conversation
• संवादः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ब्रवीमि: I tell
• ब्रवीमि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: A supremely secret teaching transmitted via a jātismara and the dialogue of Yama’s attendants

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A confidential, salvific teaching is to be received through faithful hearing of the transmitted dialogue concerning dharma and the Lord’s devotees.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Approach spiritual instruction with śraddhā, study authorized teachings, and prioritize guidance that strengthens devotion and ethical living.

Vishishtadvaita: Revelation about the Lord’s devotees (śeṣa) is treated as authoritative knowledge leading toward the Lord (śeṣin).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Servants of Yama (Yamadūtas)

FAQs

What is the significance of a jātismara (one who remembers past births) in the Vishnu Purana?

A jātismara functions as a credible witness to dharma and karmic law, lending experiential authority to teachings about death, consequence, and moral order.

How does Sage Parāśara introduce esoteric instruction in this context?

He frames it as a “supreme secret” and anchors it in a narrated dialogue—here, a conversation involving Yama’s attendants—so doctrine is delivered through story and testimony.

What is the theological importance of invoking Yama’s attendants in this verse?

It emphasizes that cosmic justice operates through ordained agents within universal order; this prepares the listener to understand karma and dharma as structured, not random, within the Purāṇic worldview.