Shloka 4

अक्रूरस्य गोकुलगमनम्—दर्शन-लालसा, अंशावतार-बोधः, विष्णु-स्तुतिः

Devanagari script

पापं हरति यत् पुंसां स्मृतं संकल्पनामयम् तत् पुण्डरीकनयनं विष्णोर् द्रक्ष्याम्य् अहं मुखम्

Transliteration

pāpaṃ harati yat puṃsāṃ smṛtaṃ saṃkalpanāmayam tat puṇḍarīkanayanaṃ viṣṇor drakṣyāmy ahaṃ mukham

Translation

The remembrance of Him—even if it arises in the mind as mere intention—removes the sins of human beings. Therefore I shall behold the face of Viṣṇu, the Lotus‑eyed Lord.

Word by Word

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हरति: removes
• हरति: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (Subject of harati)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• पुंसाम्: of men, of people
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• स्मृतम्: remembered
• स्मृतम्: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्मृ)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘यत्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (remembered)

• संकल्पनामयम्: made of (mere) thought/resolve
• संकल्पनामयम्: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संकल्प-नामय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण ‘यत्/स्मृतम्’ (consisting of mental intention)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देश (that)

• पुण्डरीकनयनम्: lotus-eyed
• पुण्डरीकनयनम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्डरीक-नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण ‘मुखम्’/विष्णु-सम्बद्धम्

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

• द्रक्ष्यामि: I shall see
• द्रक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुखम्: face
• मुखम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Primary narration by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya (verse voiced as a devotional resolve within the narrative).

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To purify beings through remembrance and to draw devotees toward liberation by contact with His name, form, and contemplation.

Leela: Moksha-dana

Dharma Restored: Inner purity and moral order through smaraṇa-bhakti

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even intentional remembrance (smṛti/smaraṇa) of the Lord eradicates sin rooted in mental constructs and redirects the mind toward liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Use brief, frequent smaraṇa—name-repetition, mental offering, or a single-form visualization—especially during moments of temptation or anxiety.

Vishishtadvaita: Grace operates through accessible means (smaraṇa) because the Lord is personally responsive to the jīva; purification is relational and God-centered, not merely self-powered.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of remembrance (smṛti) of Vishnu in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse states that even mental remembrance—arising from mere intention—destroys sin, elevating inner devotion as a direct spiritual means.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of saṅkalpa (inner resolve) in devotion?

Here devotion is framed as saṅkalpa-born remembrance: an inward turning of the mind to Vishnu that is spiritually efficacious even without external rites.

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

Vishnu is presented as the supreme, purifying Lord whose very remembrance grants purification and whose darśana is the devotee’s highest aim.