Shloka 2

स्वाध्याय-योगोपदेशः तथा केशिध्वज-खाण्डिक्य-उपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

स्वाध्यायाद् योगम् आसीत योगात् स्वाध्यायम् आचरेत् स्वाध्याययोगसंपत्त्या परमात्मा प्रकाशते

Transliteration

svādhyāyād yogam āsīta yogāt svādhyāyam ācaret svādhyāyayogasaṃpattyā paramātmā prakāśate

Translation

From sacred study one should enter into yoga, and from yoga one should return again to sacred study. Through the ripened excellence born of study and yogic discipline together, the Supreme Self shines forth—self-revealed and near.

Word by Word

• स्वाध्यायात्: from self-study
• स्वाध्यायात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative/5th), एकवचनम्

• योगम्: yoga
• योगम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• आसीत: let (it) be; let (one) have
• आसीत: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यम-पुरुषः (2nd), एकवचनम्; विधिलिङ्/आज्ञार्थे प्रयोगः (injunctive/imperative sense: ‘let there be’)

• योगात्: from yoga
• योगात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• स्वाध्यायम्: self-study
• स्वाध्यायम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• आचरेत्: should practice
• आचरेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; विध्यर्थः (should practice)

• स्वाध्याय-योग-संपत्त्या: by the attainment of self-study and yoga
• स्वाध्याय-योग-संपत्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक) + संपत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वाध्याययोगयोः संपत्त्या)

• परम-आत्मा: the Supreme Self
• परम-आत्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (परमः आत्मा)

• प्रकाशते: shines forth; becomes manifest
• प्रकाशते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + काश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How practice (sādhana) ripens into direct manifestation of the Supreme Self.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Scriptural study and yoga mutually reinforce one another; when both mature together, the Supreme Self becomes self-evident and manifest in experience.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Alternate and integrate study (reading, recitation, reflection) with daily meditation and restraint, tracking how clarity and devotion increase over time.

Vishishtadvaita: Portrays realization as the Lord/Self ‘shining forth’ through disciplined means, consistent with grace-tinged manifestation rather than mere intellectual construction.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Paramatman
• Svadhyaya

FAQs

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

This verse presents svādhyāya (sacred study/recitation) and yoga (contemplative discipline) as mutually reinforcing; together they mature the practitioner until the Supreme Self becomes directly manifest.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the relationship between study and practice?

Parāśara frames them as a cycle: study grounds the mind and doctrine, yoga internalizes it through realization, and returning to study refines understanding—culminating in clear manifestation of the Paramātman.

What is the theological importance of the Paramātman in this context?

The verse emphasizes that ultimate truth is not merely conceptual; the Supreme Reality (understood in Vaishnava theology as Vishnu) becomes self-revealed through disciplined study and yogic absorption.