Shloka 34

आत्यन्तिक-लयहेतुः: तापत्रय-विवेचनम् तथा ‘भगवान्/वासुदेव’ शब्दार्थः

Threefold Suffering and the Path to Final Liberation; Meaning of Bhagavān and Vāsudeva

Devanagari script

प्रक्षीणाखिलशौचश् च विहाराहारसस्पृहः हास्यः परिजनस्यापि निर्विण्णाशेषबान्धवः

Transliteration

prakṣīṇākhilaśaucaś ca vihārāhārasaspṛhaḥ hāsyaḥ parijanasyāpi nirviṇṇāśeṣabāndhavaḥ

Translation

His former purity and observances withered away; he grew greedy for amusements and food. He became a figure of ridicule even to his own household, and he turned indifferent to all his relatives without exception.

Word by Word

• प्रक्षीणाखिलशौचः: with all cleanliness lost
• प्रक्षीणाखिलशौचः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + क्षी (धातु) → प्रक्षीण (कृदन्त) + अखिल + शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (whose all cleanliness has decayed)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विहाराहारसस्पृहः: desirous of recreation and food
• विहाराहारसस्पृहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विहार + आहार + सस्पृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; द्वन्द्वपूर्वपद (विहार-आहार) + सस्पृह (desirous)

• हास्यः: ridiculous
• हास्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (laughable)

• परिजनस्य: of the household/attendants
• परिजनस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: even)

• निर्विण्णाशेषबान्धवः: with all relatives grown weary (of him)
• निर्विण्णाशेषबान्धवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्विण्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अशेष + बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (whose all relatives are disgusted/indifferent)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How aging erodes śauca and self-control, producing ridicule and familial alienation

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: As discipline wanes, cravings for food and diversion intensify, and one becomes contemptible—showing that unchecked desire degrades dignity.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Maintain basic observances (cleanliness, moderation, truthfulness) and reduce sense-indulgence to preserve clarity for bhakti and contemplation.

Vishishtadvaita: Ethical discipline (ācāra) supports bhakti; as the body-mind complex weakens, intentional reliance on the Lord and regulated life becomes essential.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of śauca (purity) in this Vishnu Purana verse?

The verse treats śauca as a foundation of dharma; when purity and disciplined conduct decay, a person becomes driven by appetite and pleasure, losing dignity and moral authority even within the family.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the consequences of indulgence in food and amusement here?

Parāśara presents indulgence (saspṛhā toward vihāra and āhāra) as a visible marker of inner decline—leading to social contempt (becoming hāsyaḥ) and the breakdown of responsible relationships.

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

Implicitly, the verse contrasts disorderly appetite with dharmic order upheld under Vishnu’s sovereignty; personal self-rule and purity align the individual with the cosmic order (ṛta/dharma) that Vishnu preserves.