Shloka 74

अर्जुनस्य अन्त्येष्टि, द्वारकाप्लावनम्, कलिप्रवेशः, कालोपदेशः

Devanagari script

आकण्ठमग्नं सलिले जटाभारधरं मुनिम् विनयावनताश् चैनं प्रणेमुः स्तोत्रतत्पराः

Transliteration

ākaṇṭhamagnaṃ salile jaṭābhāradharaṃ munim vinayāvanatāś cainaṃ praṇemuḥ stotratatparāḥ

Translation

Beholding the sage—submerged in the water up to his throat, bearing the heavy mass of matted locks—they, bowed in humility, prostrated before him, intent on offering hymns of praise.

Word by Word

• आकण्ठम्: up to the throat
• आकण्ठम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आकण्ठम् (अव्यय/उपपद)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (up to the throat)

• मग्नम्: submerged
• मग्नम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मग्न (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘मग्न’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; मुनिम् विशेषयति

• सलिले: in water
• सलिले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• जटाभारधरम्: bearing a mass of matted hair
• जटाभारधरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा-भार-धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—जटानां भारः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + धर (धारयति इति)

• मुनिम्: the sage
• मुनिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विनयावनताः: bowed down with humility
• विनयावनताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय-अवनत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—विनयेन अवनताः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एनम्: this one, him
• एनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद्/इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रणेमुः: they bowed down
• प्रणेमुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; उपसर्गः—प्र

• स्तोत्रतत्पराः: intent on hymns of praise
• स्तोत्रतत्पराः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तोत्र-तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—स्तोत्रे तत्पराः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True reverence expresses itself as vinaya (humility) and praṇāma before realized sages, with stotra offered as disciplined devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate humility before teachers and saints; let praise be grounded in inner restraint rather than display.

Vishishtadvaita: Devotion is mediated through Bhagavat-sambandha—honoring the Lord’s devotees/knowers as worthy recipients of reverence (śeṣa–śeṣi orientation).

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Sage (Muni/ascetic)
• Devotees/approachers (unnamed)

FAQs

What is the significance of bowing (praṇāma) to a sage in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents humility and reverence toward realized ascetics as a dharmic act that aligns the seeker with sacred order and invites spiritual instruction or blessing.

How does Sage Parāśara frame devotion here—through knowledge or through praise (stotra)?

Parāśara depicts praise and reverential approach as an immediate devotional discipline: the group’s first response is vinaya and stotra, preparing the ground for higher teaching.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s theology treats dharma, devotion, and honoring holy persons as participation in Vishnu’s cosmic sovereignty—the sustaining principle behind sacred life.