Shloka 9

कलौ धर्मसुलभता — व्यासोपाख्यानम् एवं संकीर्तन-प्रधानता

Devanagari script

ततः स्नात्वा यथान्यायम् आचान्तं तं कृतक्रियम् उपतस्थुर् महाभागा मुनयस् ते सुतं मम

Transliteration

tataḥ snātvā yathānyāyam ācāntaṃ taṃ kṛtakriyam upatasthur mahābhāgā munayas te sutaṃ mama

Translation

Then, having bathed according to rule and sipped water for purification, when he had completed the prescribed observances, those greatly fortunate sages approached and attended upon him—him who is your son, my dear.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = indeclinable adverb; अर्थे: तस्मात्/अनन्तरम् (thereafter)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); धातु: स्ना; अर्थ: स्नानं कृत्वा (having bathed)

• यथा-न्यायम्: according to proper rule
• यथा-न्यायम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + न्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थ: विधिपूर्वकं/यथाविधि (according to rule)

• आचान्तम्: who had performed sipping (ācāmana)
• आचान्तम्: Karma (Object of approach/description)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; अर्थ: आचमनं कृतवान् (having sipped/purified by sipping water)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• कृत-क्रियम्: having completed the rites
• कृत-क्रियम्: Visheshana (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातोः क्त) + क्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (कृतं क्रियम् यस्य/कृतक्रियः); नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (acc. sg. qualifying तम्)

• उपतस्थुः: approached / attended
• उपतस्थुः: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद) / परोक्षभूत (perfect); प्रथमपुरुषः बहुवचनम्; अर्थ: उपतस्थिरे/उपस्थिताः (they approached/attended)

• महाभागाः: greatly fortunate, venerable
• महाभागाः: Visheshana (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक: महा + भाग)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying मुनयः)

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural)

• ते: those
• ते: Visheshana (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (those)

• सुतम्: son
• सुतम्: Karma (Object of approach)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (Possessive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचनम् (Genitive singular)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: शुद्धाचार (स्नान–आचमनादि) के द्वारा विनय और पात्रता स्थापित करके ही जिज्ञासा/उपदेश का आरम्भ उचित है।

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: अध्ययन/साधना से पहले नित्य-शौच, संक्षिप्त प्रार्थना, और सजगता (mindful preparation) को नियम बनाइए।

Vishishtadvaita: भगवद्-सम्बन्धी ज्ञान/उपदेश के लिए आचार-शुद्धि को अंगीकार करना—शरीर-मन को भगवत्-सेवा के योग्य ‘शेष’ रूप में साधना।

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Sages (Munis)
• Maitreya (addressed as 'your son')

FAQs

What is the significance of bathing and ācamana (ritual sipping) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights that inner spiritual instruction is traditionally preceded by outward purification and completion of prescribed rites, marking readiness for sacred encounter and teaching.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the transmission of knowledge in this passage?

He presents a classical scene of authority: once the rites are completed, venerable sages formally approach the prepared figure, signaling that dharmic procedure legitimizes the unfolding narrative and instruction.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s Vaishnava worldview treats dharmic purity and sage-led instruction as supports for realizing and serving the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—especially amid Kali Yuga’s decline.