Shloka 11

गोवर्धनोत्तरविस्मयः, रासलीलाप्रसङ्गः, तथा सर्वव्याप्तिवेदान्तोपदेशः

Devanagari script

यदि वो ऽस्ति मयि प्रीतिः श्लाघ्यो ऽहं भवतां यदि तदात्मबन्धुसदृशी बुद्धिर् वः क्रियतां मयि

Transliteration

yadi vo 'sti mayi prītiḥ ślāghyo 'haṃ bhavatāṃ yadi tadātmabandhusadṛśī buddhir vaḥ kriyatāṃ mayi

Translation

If there is affection for me within you—if I am worthy of your esteem—then let your regard for me be as for one’s own inward kinsman: hold me with the closeness you grant to your very own.

Word by Word

यदिif

वःof you

अस्तिexists, is

मयिin me / toward me

प्रीतिःaffection, love

श्लाघ्यःpraiseworthy

अहम्I

भवताम्of you (respected)

यदिif

तदात्मबन्धुसदृशीlike (toward me) as to one’s own kinsman

बुद्धिःattitude, understanding

वःof you

क्रियताम्let it be made / let it be adopted

मयिtoward me / in me

Speaker

A king/prince addressing others in the royal-genealogical narrative (Ansha 4 context; exact named speaker not specified in the provided excerpt).

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: compassionate

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To teach by intimate counsel that loving regard for the Lord as one’s own dearest relation is a direct path into steadfast bhakti.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Right orientation of the heart—transforming esteem into stable, kinship-like devotion.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True prīti culminates in a stable ‘ātma-bandhu’ attitude—relating to the Lord as one’s innermost kin, with unwavering closeness and understanding.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Nurture a daily relationship with God as your closest companion—through remembrance, honest prayer, and consistent service.

Vishishtadvaita: The soul’s natural dependence (śeṣatva) flowers into intimate belonging: the Supreme is the inner-relative of the self, enabling personal communion without erasing distinction.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Sakhya

FAQs

What is the significance of treating someone as an ātma-bandhu (as dear as one’s own self) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse elevates social and political relationship into a dharmic ideal: true loyalty is shown when one’s attitude becomes as intimate and protective as toward one’s own kin.

How does the Vishnu Purana use dialogue in dynasty sections to teach dharma?

In Ansha 4, moral instruction is often embedded in royal conversations; here, the speaker defines the standard of genuine esteem as kin-like regard expressed through one’s buddhi (settled disposition).

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s dynasty narratives are framed within Vishnu’s sovereign order: dharmic relationships and right counsel are presented as sustaining the world governed by the Supreme Reality.