Shloka 23

वैष्णवीमायावितानम्, उग्रसेनाभिषेकः, सुधर्मासभा, सांदीपनिगमनम्, पाञ्चजन्य-प्राप्तिः, गुरुदक्षिणा

Devanagari script

अस्त्रग्रामम् अशेषं च प्रोक्तमात्रम् अवाप्य तौ ऊचतुर् व्रियतां या ते दातव्या गुरुदक्षिणा

Transliteration

astragrāmam aśeṣaṃ ca proktamātram avāpya tau ūcatur vriyatāṃ yā te dātavyā gurudakṣiṇā

Translation

Having received in full the entire compendium of sacred weapons exactly as taught, the two said: “Choose what you wish; we shall offer the guru-dakṣiṇā that is due to you.”

Word by Word

• अस्त्र-ग्रामम्: the collection of weapons
• अस्त्र-ग्रामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘अस्त्राणां ग्रामः/समूहः’ (acc. sg.)

• अशेषम्: entire, without remainder
• अशेषम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (acc. sg.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रोक्त-मात्रम्: only as much as was taught
• प्रोक्त-मात्रम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-उच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘प्रोक्तस्य मात्रम्’ = ‘केवलं यत् उक्तम्’ (acc. sg.)

• अवाप्य: having obtained
• अवाप्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययभावे), पूर्वकालिक; ‘having obtained’ (gerund)

• तौ: the two (of them)
• तौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), द्विवचन (nom. du.)

• ऊचतुः: said
• ऊचतुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद (perfect, 3rd du.)

• व्रियताम्: let (it) be chosen
• व्रियताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद—कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः ‘let it be chosen’ (imperative, 3rd sg., Ātmanepada)

• या: which
• या: Visheshya (Relative subject/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-यत् (relative pronoun)

• ते: for you / of you
• ते: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘तव’ (gen. sg.)

• दातव्या: to be given
• दातव्या: Vidhyartha (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (कर्तव्यता/विधिलिङ्गार्थ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be given’ (gerundive, nom. sg. f.)

• गुरु-दक्षिणा: teacher’s fee (guru-dakṣiṇā)
• गुरु-दक्षिणा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘गुरोः दक्षिणा’ (nom. sg.)

Speaker

The two disciples (unnamed here) addressing their teacher

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Kṛṣṇa-carita (narration of Kṛṣṇa’s deeds)

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He demonstrates ideal conduct by honoring the guru through guru-dakṣiṇā after completing learning.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Guru-ṛṇa repayment and sanctity of knowledge transmission; disciplined use of astras under dharma.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowledge is completed by right relationship—service and gratitude to the teacher through guru-dakṣiṇā.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Honor mentors with tangible service, integrity, and continued respect; repay learning by using skills for dharma.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti expresses itself as śeṣatva (servanthood) toward Bhagavān’s representatives (guru), aligning action with devotion.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

FAQs

What is the significance of guru-dakṣiṇā in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights guru-dakṣiṇā as a required dharmic completion of learning—gratitude and obligation that sanctifies the transmission of knowledge.

How does the text portray the proper use of power gained through astra-vidyā?

By pairing mastery of weapons with the ritual-ethical act of offering guru-dakṣiṇā, the narrative implies that power must remain under dharma and humility.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s moral universe presumes dharma as upheld by the Supreme Lord; disciplined learning and rightful duty align the seeker with that divine order.