Shloka 30

कलौ धर्मसुलभता — व्यासोपाख्यानम् एवं संकीर्तन-प्रधानता

Devanagari script

एतद् वः कथितं विप्रा यन्निमित्तम् इहागताः तत् पृच्छत यथाकामं अहं वक्ष्यामि वः स्फुटम्

Transliteration

etad vaḥ kathitaṃ viprā yannimittam ihāgatāḥ tat pṛcchata yathākāmaṃ ahaṃ vakṣyāmi vaḥ sphuṭam

Translation

O Brahmin sages, I have told you the very reason for which you have come here. Now ask whatever you wish; I shall explain it to you clearly, without obscurity.

Word by Word

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सन्दर्भे कर्मरूपे (this [has been told])

• vaḥ: to you
• vaḥ: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी/षष्ठी (4th/6th), बहुवचन; अत्र सम्प्रदान (to you)

• kathitam: told
• kathitam: Karma (Predicate participle/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कथितम्’ (told)

• viprāḥ: O Brahmins
• viprāḥ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), बहुवचन

• yat-nimittam: for what reason
• yat-nimittam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + nimitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘यन्निमित्तम्’ = यस्य निमित्तम् (for what reason)

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• āgatāḥ: have come
• āgatāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle, active sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; ‘आगताः’ (have come)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• pṛcchata: ask
• pṛcchata: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prach (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• yathā-kāmam: as you wish
• yathā-kāmam: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• vakṣyāmi: will tell
• vakṣyāmi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• vaḥ: to you
• vaḥ: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी/षष्ठी, बहुवचन; अत्र सम्प्रदान (to you)

• sphuṭam: clearly
• sphuṭam: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sphuṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपे नपुंसक-एकवचन-अव्ययीभूतम् (adverbial accusative)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing the assembled vipras/sages within the narrative frame; teaching context ultimately to Maitreya in the Vishnu Purana’s main dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A true teacher invites inquiry and responds with clarity, removing obscurity for the sake of understanding.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate honest questioning and seek teachers/texts that prioritize lucid explanation over secrecy or confusion.

Vishishtadvaita: Knowledge is transmitted through compassionate instruction (upadeśa) that orients the seeker toward the Lord’s order (dharma) rather than mere speculation.

Characters & Entities

• Vipras (Brahmin sages)

FAQs

What is the significance of the question-and-answer format in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights the Purana’s pedagogical method: sages approach a realized teacher, the purpose is stated, and the teaching unfolds through inquiry, ensuring clarity and faithful transmission.

How does Sage Parāśara explain concepts in the Vishnu Purana according to this verse?

He promises “sphuṭam” (distinctly/clearly), indicating an intention to present doctrine and narrative without ambiguity, guided by the questions of the listeners.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in this line, the verse establishes the authoritative setting in which Vishnu-centered teachings—especially about cosmic order, yugas, and ultimate sovereignty—will be explained clearly by the sage.