Shloka 5

तालवन-उद्धारः: धेनुकासुरवधः, फल-समृद्धिः, गो-क्षेमः

Devanagari script

फलानि पश्य तालानां गन्धामोदितदिंशि च वयम् एतान्य् अभीप्सामः पात्यन्तां यदि रोचते

Transliteration

phalāni paśya tālānāṃ gandhāmoditadiṃśi ca vayam etāny abhīpsāmaḥ pātyantāṃ yadi rocate

Translation

“Behold these palm fruits; their fragrance sweetens every quarter. We desire them—if it pleases you, let them be brought down.”

Word by Word

• phalāni: fruits
• phalāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• paśya: see/look
• paśya: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paś (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tālānām: of the palm trees
• tālānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• gandha-āmodita-diṃśi: fragrantly perfuming the quarters
• gandha-āmodita-diṃśi: Karma (Object attribute/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gandha + āmodita + diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (gandhena āmoditā diśaḥ yasmin: ‘(fruits) making the directions fragrant/pleasant’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुषार्थे सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• etāni: these
• etāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• abhīpsāmaḥ: we desire/wish for
• abhīpsāmaḥ: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-īps (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: ईप्स् (to desire) उपसर्ग: अभि

• pātyantām: let them be made to fall (be dropped)
• pātyantām: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative: पातयति) कर्मणि/आज्ञार्थे प्रयोगः (‘let them be made to fall’)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (Condition marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional particle: if)

• rocate: it pleases (you)
• rocate: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ruc (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे/कर्तरि (‘it pleases’)

Speaker

A worldly character within the dynasty narrative (courtly/companions addressing another person); framed overall by Sage Parāśara narrating to Maitreya

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotional life includes delight in God’s creation, received as prasāda when sought in harmony with the Lord and His companions.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate gratitude for sensory gifts (food, fragrance, beauty) and convert desire into offering and sharing rather than grasping.

Vishishtadvaita: The world’s qualities are meaningful as the Lord’s modes (prakāra), to be enjoyed as His gift, not denied as mere illusion.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Sakhya

FAQs

What is the significance of sensory desire in this verse of the Vishnu Purana?

The verse highlights attraction to pleasing objects (fragrant fruits), a common narrative device used to show how desire can steer choices within royal and social life.

How does Sage Parāśara explain human motivation in dynasty narratives?

Through episodes like this, the Purana depicts ordinary impulses—wanting enjoyment, comfort, or status—within the broader moral and karmic flow that Parāśara narrates to Maitreya.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in a given line, the Purana’s intent is to place worldly action under the sovereignty of dharma and cosmic order ultimately upheld by Vishnu.