Shloka 29

Devanagari script

गते सनातनस्यांशे विष्णोस् तत्र भुवो दिवम् तत्याज सानुजो राज्यं धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः

Transliteration

gate sanātanasyāṃśe viṣṇos tatra bhuvo divam tatyāja sānujo rājyaṃ dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Translation

When that eternal portion of Viṣṇu had departed from the earth to heaven, Yudhiṣṭhira—the son of Dharma—renounced the kingdom as well, together with his younger brothers.

Word by Word

• गते: when (he) had gone
• गते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गत (कृदन्त; √गम्+क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• सनातनस्य: of the eternal (one)
• सनातनस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (eternal)

• अंशे: in the portion/when the portion (had departed)
• अंशे: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘गते’ इति सह सति-सप्तमी

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adverbial (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• भुवः: of the earth/world
• भुवः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक; भुव्/भूः)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिवम्: to heaven
• दिवम्: Gati-Karma (Goal/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्याज: abandoned/left
• तत्याज: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सानुजः: together with his younger brothers
• सानुजः: Karta (Subject complement/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-अनुज (प्रातिपदिक; स+अनुज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अनुजेन सह)

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धर्मपुत्रः: Dharma’s son
• धर्मपुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म-पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म+पुत्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य पुत्रः)

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating) to Maitreya

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Consequences in royal dharma after the Lord’s departure—Yudhiṣṭhira’s renunciation

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When the Lord’s manifest līlā withdraws, the wise prioritize dharma and detachment over political power, exemplified by Yudhiṣṭhira’s renunciation.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Hold roles and authority lightly; when circumstances shift, choose integrity, simplicity, and spiritual priorities over clinging to status.

Vishishtadvaita: Surrendered living: governance and renunciation are both offerings to Nārāyaṇa; the self remains a dependent mode (śeṣa) of the Lord, expressing service through timely withdrawal.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Vamsha: Chandra

Dharma Exemplar: vairāgya (renunciation)

Key Kings: Yudhiṣṭhira

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Dharma (as Yama)
• Pandava brothers

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu’s ‘aṁśa’ departing to heaven in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks the withdrawal of the Lord’s manifest presence from the earth, signaling a major transition in the age and in the stability of dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Yudhiṣṭhira’s renunciation here?

As a direct response to the Lord’s departure: the dharmic king relinquishes sovereignty and turns toward detachment, aligning personal conduct with cosmic change.

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

Vishnu is presented as the Supreme Reality whose manifestation governs worldly order; when His aṁśa departs, even righteous kings conclude their reign and seek the higher goal.