Shloka 2

Devanagari script

शौचाचारवता तत्र कार्यं शुश्रूषणं गुरोः व्रतानि चरता ग्राह्यो वेदश् च कृतबुद्धिना

Transliteration

śaucācāravatā tatra kāryaṃ śuśrūṣaṇaṃ guroḥ vratāni caratā grāhyo vedaś ca kṛtabuddhinā

Translation

There, the student established in purity of conduct should diligently serve the teacher; and, observing the prescribed vows, with a disciplined and resolute mind, he should receive and master the Veda.

Word by Word

• शौचाचारवता: by one who is pure and well-conducted
• शौचाचारवता: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शौच-आचार-वत् = possessing purity and good conduct)

• तत्र: there (in that situation/at the teacher’s house)
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक adverb of place)

• कार्यम्: (it) should be done / duty
• कार्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (कृ धातु + यत्, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; “to be done/duty”

• शुश्रूषणम्: service, attentive obedience
• शुश्रूषणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषण (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative noun from श्रु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• व्रतानि: vows, observances
• व्रतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• चरता: by practicing (them)
• चरता: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; “by (him) practicing”

• ग्राह्यः: is to be learnt/received
• ग्राह्यः: Vidhi (Obligation predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive: to be taken/learnt), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वेदः: the Veda
• वेदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• कृतबुद्धिना: with a disciplined/formed intellect
• कृतबुद्धिना: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु + क्त) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (कृता बुद्धिः येन = with resolved/intelligent mind)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Brahmacārin’s purity, guru-service, vows, and disciplined reception of Veda

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: practical

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purity of conduct, service to the guru, and vow-observance are prerequisites for truly receiving and mastering the Veda.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Pair learning with ethical habits: cleanliness, consistency, and humble service to mentors and community.

Vishishtadvaita: Discipline (vrata) and service (śuśrūṣā) are portrayed as sanctifying actions that align the individual self with the divine order upheld by the Lord.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Veda

FAQs

What is the significance of guru-sevā (service to the teacher) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents service to the guru as a primary duty of the student, implying that humility, obedience, and attentiveness are essential conditions for receiving the Veda.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the proper method of learning the Veda?

He frames Vedic study as something to be 'received' through purity of conduct, observance of vows, and a disciplined mind—showing that knowledge is transmitted through lived discipline, not mere recitation.

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

Though Vishnu is not named here, the verse upholds dharma—purity, vows, and right learning—as the divine order sustained under Vishnu’s supreme governance, aligning education and conduct with cosmic law.