Shloka 20

विष्ण्वाराधन-फलम् तथा वर्णधर्माः

Worship of Vishnu through Varṇa-dharma

Devanagari script

तद् अहं श्रोतुम् इच्छामि वर्णधर्मान् अशेषतः तथैवाश्रमधर्मांश् च द्विजवर्य ब्रवीहि तान्

Transliteration

tad ahaṃ śrotum icchāmi varṇadharmān aśeṣataḥ tathaivāśramadharmāṃś ca dvijavarya bravīhi tān

Translation

Therefore I wish to hear, fully and without omission, the duties of the varṇas, and likewise the duties of the āśramas. O best of the twice-born, please expound them to me.

Word by Word

• tat: that (topic/that matter)
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (I)

• śrotum: to hear
• śrotum: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; अर्थः—श्रवणं कर्तुम् (to hear)

• icchāmi: I desire
• icchāmi: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• varṇa-dharmān: duties of the varṇas
• varṇa-dharmān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वर्णस्य धर्माः); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• aśeṣataḥ: completely, without remainder
• aśeṣataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); प्रकार/परिमाणवाचक—सम्पूर्णतः (entirely)

• tathā: thus, likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/emphasis)

• āśrama-dharmān: duties of the āśramas
• āśrama-dharmān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: आश्रमस्य धर्माः); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• dvija-varya: O best of the twice-born
• dvija-varya: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + varya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (श्रेष्ठो द्विजः); पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• bravīhi: tell, speak
• bravīhi: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tān: those (them)
• tān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (them)

Speaker

Maitreya (addressing Sage Parāśara)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: Varṇa-dharma and āśrama-dharma in full (aśeṣataḥ)

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: inquisitive, disciplined

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is to be learned comprehensively, distinguishing duties by social order (varṇa) and life-stage (āśrama).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Seek a complete, contextual understanding of duties and commitments appropriate to one’s station and stage, rather than piecemeal rules.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma-knowledge is pursued as service to the Lord’s order (niyati), aligning the individual’s role with the divine governance of the world.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Sage Parasara
• Dvija (twice-born)

FAQs

What is the significance of varna-ashrama dharma in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse marks Maitreya’s formal request for a complete exposition of societal and life-stage duties, presenting dharma as the organizing principle of human life within the Purana’s wider cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain varna and āśrama duties in this dialogue setting?

Maitreya prompts Parāśara to teach systematically and “without omission,” indicating a structured dharma-teaching section where duties are laid out as authoritative guidance within the Parāśara–Maitreya narration.

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

Even when the verse focuses on social and personal duties, the Vishnu Purana’s framework treats dharma as ultimately grounded in the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—so right conduct becomes a means of aligning life with divine order.