Shloka 31

कलौ धर्मसुलभता — व्यासोपाख्यानम् एवं संकीर्तन-प्रधानता

Devanagari script

ततस् ते मुनयः प्रोचुर् यत् प्रष्टव्यं महामुने अन्यस्मिन्न् एव तत् प्रश्ने यथावत् कथितं त्वया

Transliteration

tatas te munayaḥ procur yat praṣṭavyaṃ mahāmune anyasminn eva tat praśne yathāvat kathitaṃ tvayā

Translation

Then those sages said: “O great sage, what is to be asked has already been asked in another inquiry, and you have already explained it there completely and in proper order.”

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (Temporal/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरवाचक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• te: they
• te: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• munayaḥ: sages
• munayaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• procuḥ: said/spoke
• procuḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• yat: that which
• yat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (that which)

• praṣṭavyam: to be asked
• praṣṭavyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√prach (धातु) + tavya (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘प्रष्टव्यम्’ (to be asked)

• mahā-mune: O great sage
• mahā-mune: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; ‘महामुनिः’ इति विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः

• anyasmin: in another
• anyasmin: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying implied ‘प्रश्ने’)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

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

• praśne: in the question
• praśne: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praśna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• yathāvat: properly
• yathāvat: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (properly, as it should be)

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

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karana (Agent-in-instrumental/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

Speaker

The sages (munis) addressing the great sage (mahāmuni) within the ongoing narration (commonly framed within Parāśara–Maitreya dialogue).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right inquiry includes recognizing when knowledge has already been adequately conveyed and honoring the completeness of teaching.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Avoid redundant disputation; practice attentive listening and integrate what is already received before seeking more.

Vishishtadvaita: Transmission of truth occurs in a disciplined teacher–disciple culture; humility and receptivity are part of the sādhana that supports bhakti and knowledge together.

Characters & Entities

• Sages (Munis)
• Mahāmuni (great sage)

FAQs

What is the significance of orderly exposition (yathāvat) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights that Purāṇic teaching is meant to be given systematically; the sages affirm that the topic has already been explained in proper sequence, reflecting disciplined transmission of knowledge.

How does the Vishnu Purana handle repeated questions or overlapping topics?

Here the sages indicate cross-referencing: a matter intended for inquiry has already been addressed in a different question, showing that themes like time-cycles and dissolution are interlinked across the dialogue.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the method of ‘complete and proper’ teaching supports the Purana’s aim: to present the cosmic order—ultimately grounded in Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty—without confusion or contradiction.