Shloka 2

Devanagari script

आध्यात्मिको वै द्विविधः शारीरो मानसस् तथा शारीरो बहुभिर् भेदैर् भिद्यते श्रूयतां च सः

Transliteration

ādhyātmiko vai dvividhaḥ śārīro mānasas tathā śārīro bahubhir bhedair bhidyate śrūyatāṃ ca saḥ

Translation

Truly, the affliction that arises from one’s own self is twofold—bodily and mental. And the bodily kind is further divided into many varieties; hear now of them.

Word by Word

• आध्यात्मिकः: spiritual (type of suffering)
• आध्यात्मिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आध्यात्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• द्विविधः: twofold
• द्विविधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगुः—द्वौ विधौ यस्य (twofold)

• शारीरः: bodily (one kind)
• शारीरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शारीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (आध्यात्मिकस्य भेदः)

• मानसः: mental (one kind)
• मानसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (आध्यात्मिकस्य भेदः)

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Discourse connector (समुच्चय/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/conjunctive: ‘and likewise’)

• शारीरः: the bodily (suffering)
• शारीरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शारीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (तापः/आध्यात्मिकः इत्यस्य उपविभागः)

• बहुभिः: by many
• बहुभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; ‘भेदैः’ इति विशेषणम्

• भेदैः: by distinctions/types
• भेदैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• भिद्यते: is divided
• भिद्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is divided)

• श्रूयताम्: let it be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (Injunctive/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; भावे—‘let it be heard’

• च: and
• च: Discourse connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सः: it/that (bodily suffering)
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Classification of ādhyātmika (self-originating) afflictions into bodily and mental types

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: didactic and systematic

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Self-born suffering (ādhyātmika-tāpa) is twofold—bodily and mental—and must be discerned clearly to uproot it.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Observe pains as either bodily or mental, and respond with appropriate discipline: healthful restraint for the body and mindfulness/discrimination for the mind.

Vishishtadvaita: By distinguishing body-mind afflictions, the text reinforces the jīva’s distinctness from the body while remaining dependent on the Lord for ultimate release.

FAQs

What is the significance of classifying adhyātmika (inner) suffering in the Vishnu Purana?

It frames liberation teaching by identifying suffering that originates within oneself, so it can be addressed through discipline, insight, and devotion rather than external remedies alone.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the twofold nature of inner affliction here?

He divides adhyātmika suffering into bodily (śārīra) and mental (mānasa), then indicates that the bodily category contains many subtypes to be listed next.

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

By mapping the mechanics of bondage (duḥkha) in body and mind, the text implicitly guides the seeker toward moksha, where Vishnu is realized as the supreme refuge and final ground beyond suffering.