Shloka 1

स्वाध्याय-योगोपदेशः तथा केशिध्वज-खाण्डिक्य-उपाख्यानम्

Yoga through Study and Restraint; The Keśidhvaja–Khāṇḍikya Narrative Frame

Devanagari script

स्वाध्यायसंयमाभ्यां स दृश्यते पुरुषोत्तमः तत्प्राप्तिकारणं ब्रह्म तद् एतद् इति पठ्यते

Transliteration

svādhyāyasaṃyamābhyāṃ sa dṛśyate puruṣottamaḥ tatprāptikāraṇaṃ brahma tad etad iti paṭhyate

Translation

Through sacred self-study and disciplined restraint, that Supreme Person (Puruṣottama) is truly perceived. The cause by which He is attained is Brahman—thus is it recited: “That indeed is This.”

Word by Word

• स्वाध्याय-संयमाभ्याम्: by self-study and restraint
• स्वाध्याय-संयमाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + संयम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (स्वाध्यायः च संयमः च)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• दृश्यते: is seen; is realized
• दृश्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (Passive)

• पुरुष-उत्तमः: the Supreme Person
• पुरुष-उत्तमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुरुषाणाम् उत्तमः)

• तत्-प्राप्ति-कारणम्: the cause of attaining that
• तत्-प्राप्ति-कारणम्: Pratijna/Predicate (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्राप्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य प्राप्तेः कारणम्)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Pratijna/Predicate (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Pratijna/Predicate (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha/Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्ययम् (quotative particle)

• पठ्यते: is read; is recited
• पठ्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (Passive)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Means of perceiving and attaining the Supreme Person in the context of dissolution and liberation.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Puruṣottama is perceived through svādhyāya and saṃyama; the means that causes His attainment is Brahman, expressed as the mahāvākya-like recognition 'That indeed is This'.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Maintain daily scriptural recitation with ethical restraint; use study to steady the mind and let insight mature into lived God-orientation.

Vishishtadvaita: Links Brahman directly with Puruṣottama (a personal Supreme), supporting the Vishishtadvaita identification of Brahman with Narayana rather than an impersonal absolute.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahman

FAQs

What is the significance of svādhyāya and saṃyama in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents them as the practical means by which Puruṣottama is directly realized—study that anchors understanding, and restraint that stabilizes the mind for vision of the Supreme.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the means to attain the Supreme?

He frames attainment as rooted in Brahman-knowledge, approached through disciplined practice: self-study and self-control culminate in perceiving the Supreme Person.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is identified as Puruṣottama and as Brahman itself—the ultimate reality—so liberation is portrayed as realizing Him, not merely reaching a distant realm.