Shloka 2

विष्ण्वाराधन-फलम् तथा वर्णधर्माः

Worship of Vishnu through Varṇa-dharma

Devanagari script

आराधिताच् च गोविन्दाद् आराधनपरैर् नरैः यत् प्राप्यते फलं श्रोतुं तच् चेच्छामि महामुने

Transliteration

ārādhitāc ca govindād ārādhanaparair naraiḥ yat prāpyate phalaṃ śrotuṃ tac cecchāmi mahāmune

Translation

O great sage, I wish to hear what fruit is attained from Govinda when men, wholly devoted to worship, adore Him with single-minded love.

Word by Word

• आराधितात्: from (having) worshipped / from worship
• आराधितात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त ‘आराधित’ (worshipped) से; पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादानार्थे (from)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• गोविन्दात्: from Govinda
• गोविन्दात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• आराधन-परैः: by men devoted to worship
• आराधन-परैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आराधन (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (आराधने परः = devoted to worship); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (नरैः)

• नरैः: by men
• नरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• प्राप्यते: is obtained
• प्राप्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (is obtained)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• इच्छामि: I desire
• इच्छामि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (महान् मुनिः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Maitreya (addressing Sage Parāśara)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: What fruit (phala) arises from single-minded worship of Govinda

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: earnest

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Exclusive devotion (ārādhanā-paratā) to Govinda is presented as a means to a distinct, higher fruit than ordinary worldly outcomes.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Prioritize one steady form of Viṣṇu-bhakti (nāma, arcana, smaraṇa) and measure ‘fruit’ as reduction of bondage and growth of surrender, not merely external gains.

Vishishtadvaita: The ‘fruit’ is granted by a personal Lord (Govinda) in response to devotion, consistent with grace (anugraha) within a real world and real devotee.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Govinda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of worshipping Govinda in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Govinda (Vishnu) as the supreme object of worship and asks specifically about the phala—implying that devotion to Vishnu is a central means for attaining the highest good.

How does Sage Parashara explain the fruits of devotion in this dialogue structure?

Maitreya’s inquiry sets up Parāśara’s teaching method: the disciple asks about outcomes of worship, and the sage responds by defining both the practice (ārādhana) and its results within Vishnu-centered dharma.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

By naming Vishnu as Govinda and focusing on worship directed to Him, the verse highlights Vishnu’s supremacy and suggests that spiritual attainment is anchored in devotion to the Lord as the ultimate refuge and ruler of cosmic order.