Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

गुरुदेवद्विजातीनां मातापित्रोश् च पूजनम् कुर्वतां सफलं जन्म देहिनां तात जायते

Transliteration

gurudevadvijātīnāṃ mātāpitroś ca pūjanam kurvatāṃ saphalaṃ janma dehināṃ tāta jāyate

Translation

Dear one, for embodied beings life becomes truly fulfilled when they devote themselves to honoring the guru, the gods, the twice-born, and also to reverently worshiping their mother and father.

Word by Word

• गुरुदेवद्विजातीनाम्: of gurus, gods, and twice-born (Brāhmaṇas etc.)
• गुरुदेवद्विजातीनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समासः (list of those to be honored)

• मातापित्रोः: of mother and father
• मातापित्रोः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माता (प्रातिपदिक) + पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• पूजनम्: worship, honoring
• पूजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (√पूज् धातु + ल्युट्/घञ् भाववाचक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; भाववाचक-नाम

• कुर्वताम्: of those who perform
• कुर्वताम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + शतृ (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त; षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; 'of those who do'

• सफलम्: fruitful, successful
• सफलम्: Predicate adjective
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम्

• जन्म: birth, life
• जन्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• देहिनाम्: of embodied beings
• देहिनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• तात: O dear (father)
• तात: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• जायते: is born, becomes
• जायते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Normative dharma taught by Kṛṣṇa as part of His exemplary conduct

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa instructs that honoring guru, devas, dvijas, and parents makes embodied life fruitful, modeling dharma for society.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Vaidika social-religious order (guru-sevā, deva-arcana, dvija-satkara, pitṛ-mātṛ-pūjā)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Life attains success through reverent service to guru, devas, dvijas, and one’s parents.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Keep a structured practice: teacher-respect, gratitude rituals, support of learned/virtuous persons, and consistent care for parents.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhagavān-centered life integrates bhakti with ordained duties; service to His representatives (guru, devas as His limbs, elders) is service to Him.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Devas
• Dvijas
• Mother
• Father

FAQs

What is the significance of honoring the guru and parents in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse states that the very fruit of human life is realized through reverent honoring of the guru, the divine, the twice-born, and especially one’s mother and father—making birth itself meaningful.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the measure of a ‘fruitful’ life?

Parāśara frames ‘saphala janma’ (a successful life) not as worldly achievement but as dharmic reverence—active pūjā and service toward spiritual and familial sources of guidance and life.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the teaching reflects Vaishnava dharma: alignment with cosmic order through right conduct, where honoring divinity and rightful authorities supports devotion and spiritual maturation under the Supreme Reality.