Shloka 50
कलियुग-प्रवृत्तिः, सप्तर्षि-गणना, धरणीगीताः, च वंश-समाप्तिः
Kali-yuga onset, Saptarṣi reckoning, Dharaṇī-gītā, and closure of the dynastic account
समुद्रावरणं याति मन्मण्डलम् अथो वशम् कियद् आत्मजयाद् एतन् मुक्तिर् आत्मजये फलम्
samudrāvaraṇaṃ yāti manmaṇḍalam atho vaśam kiyad ātmajayād etan muktir ātmajaye phalam
By conquering oneself, even the whole sphere of the mind—bounded by the ocean-like expanse of sense-objects—comes under control. Yet what is the measure of such self-victory? Liberation (moksha) alone is the true fruit of self-mastery.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: The futility of external conquest versus conquest of the self, and the true fruit of self-mastery.
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Mastery over the mind and senses is meaningful only insofar as it culminates in mokṣa, which is the true fruit of conquering oneself.
Vedantic Theme: Moksha
Application: Treat meditation, restraint, and discipline as means toward freedom from identification and craving, not as ends in themselves.
Vishishtadvaita: Mokṣa is not mere mental control but release from bondage through right knowledge and surrender to the Supreme who grants liberation.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse frames self-conquest as the mastery of the mind’s domain, but insists that its highest significance is not control itself—rather, it culminates in moksha (liberation).
Parāśara treats mind-control as a meaningful attainment, yet immediately relativizes it: the real “fruit” of conquering the self is freedom from bondage—mukti.
In the Vishnu Purana’s Vaishnava framework, liberation is ultimately grounded in the Supreme Reality (Vishnu); self-mastery is presented as the inward preparation whose true completion is release into that highest state.