Shloka 30

स्वाध्याय-योगोपदेशः तथा केशिध्वज-खाण्डिक्य-उपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

परलोकजयो ऽनन्तः स्वल्पकालो महीजयः तस्माद् एनं न हनिष्ये यत् पृच्छति वदामि तत्

Transliteration

paralokajayo 'nantaḥ svalpakālo mahījayaḥ tasmād enaṃ na haniṣye yat pṛcchati vadāmi tat

Translation

Victory in the worlds beyond is without end, while conquest of the earth lasts only a little while. Therefore I shall not slay him; whatever he asks, that I will answer.

Word by Word

• परलोकजयः: victory in the next world
• परलोकजयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परलोक (प्रातिपदिक) + जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (परलोकस्य जयः)

• अनन्तः: endless
• अनन्तः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (परलोकजय-विशेषण)

• स्वल्पकालः: a short time
• स्वल्पकालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वल्पः कालः)

• महीजयः: victory on earth
• महीजयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महेः/महीयाः जयः)

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद्/इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• हनिष्ये: I shall kill
• हनिष्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• यत्: what
• यत्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• पृच्छति: he asks
• पृच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्/पृच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वदामि: I say
• वदामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तद्-शब्दः (correlative)

Speaker

A king/ruler in the narrative (as recounted by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Ethical discernment: superiority of enduring otherworldly good over fleeting earthly conquest

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Otherworldly attainment is enduring, while earthly victory is brief; therefore one should restrain violence and choose the path aligned with lasting good.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Prefer choices that reduce harm and cultivate lasting inner growth over status, dominance, or short-lived wins.

Vishishtadvaita: Frames lasting ‘paraloka-jaya’ as the higher telos, consistent with surrender to Bhagavān whose grace grants enduring good.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of paraloka (the hereafter) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse prioritizes endless spiritual consequence over short-lived earthly conquest, framing dharma as oriented to the eternal rather than the temporary.

How does Sage Parāśara explain ethical kingship in this context?

Through narrative exemplars: a ruler restrains violence and chooses truthful speech, implying that righteous action safeguards lasting welfare beyond mere political success.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Even without naming Vishnu directly, the verse reflects a Vishnu Purana theme: enduring order and ultimate fruit belong to the divine governance of reality, while worldly dominion is transient.