Shloka 16

विष्ण्वाराधन-फलम् तथा वर्णधर्माः

Worship of Vishnu through Varṇa-dharma

Devanagari script

देवद्विजगुरूणां यः शुश्रूषासु सदोद्यतः तोष्यते तेन गोविन्दः पुरुषेण नरेश्वर

Transliteration

devadvijagurūṇāṃ yaḥ śuśrūṣāsu sadodyataḥ toṣyate tena govindaḥ puruṣeṇa nareśvara

Translation

O lord of men, the person ever intent on reverent service to the gods, the twice-born, and the teachers—by him Govinda is truly pleased.

Word by Word

• deva-dvija-gurūṇām: of gods, twice-born, and teachers
• deva-dvija-gurūṇām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (devaś ca dvijaś ca guruś ca)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (singular); सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

• śuśrūṣāsu: in acts of service
• śuśrūṣāsu: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuśrūṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन (plural)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• udyataḥ: engaged/ready
• udyataḥ: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-yat (धातु) → udyata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• toṣyate: is pleased
• toṣyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tuṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• tena: by him/thereby
• tena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• govindaḥ: Govinda (Vishnu)
• govindaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• puruṣeṇa: by a man/person
• puruṣeṇa: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• nareśvara: O lord of men (king)
• nareśvara: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (narāṇām īśvaraḥ)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya; addressing a kingly archetype as 'nareśvara')

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Conduct pleasing to Govinda through service to devas, dvijas, and gurus

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Govinda is pleased by steadfast śuśrūṣā—attentive service—to the gods, the twice-born, and one’s teachers.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Serve elders and teachers, support sacred learning and worship, and cultivate humility as an offering to Govinda.

Vishishtadvaita: Service to Bhagavān is concretely expressed through honoring His devotees and the dharmic institutions that sustain Vedic knowledge.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Govinda (Vishnu)
• Devas
• Dvijas (twice-born)
• Gurus (teachers)

FAQs

What is the significance of service (śuśrūṣā) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents service to devas, dvijas, and gurus as a direct means of pleasing Govinda, making social duty an expression of devotion.

How does Sage Parāśara explain dharma in practical terms here?

He frames dharma as steady, lived conduct—consistent attendance and respect toward the worthy—rather than mere ritual or theory.

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

Govinda is portrayed as the supreme reality who responds to righteous conduct; devotion is validated through dharmic service that upholds order.