Shloka 33

स्वाध्याय-योगोपदेशः तथा केशिध्वज-खाण्डिक्य-उपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

स चाचष्ट यथान्यायं द्विज केशिध्वजाय तत् प्रायश्चित्तम् अशेषेण यद् वै तत्र विधीयते

Transliteration

sa cācaṣṭa yathānyāyaṃ dvija keśidhvajāya tat prāyaścittam aśeṣeṇa yad vai tatra vidhīyate

Translation

And the brahmin then explained to Keśidhvaja—according to the rule of sacred law—every detail of the expiation ordained for that matter, leaving nothing unsaid.

Word by Word

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आचष्ट: explained, told
• आचष्ट: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• यथान्यायम्: according to proper rule
• यथान्यायम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + न्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषणम् (according to rule)

• द्विज: O brahmin
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• केशिध्वजाय: to Keśidhvaja
• केशिध्वजाय: Sampradana (Recipient/Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशिध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रायश्चित्तम्: expiation
• प्रायश्चित्तम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अशेषेण: completely, without remainder
• अशेषेण: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणम् (instrumental used adverbially: completely)

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

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed)

• तत्र: there, in that case
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there/in that matter)

• विधीयते: is prescribed
• विधीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The complete, rule-based expiation (prāyaścitta) appropriate to the deed

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Atonement must be taught and performed according to śāstra, completely and without omission, to restore moral order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When repairing harm, follow a complete process—acknowledgment, guidance, restitution, and sustained corrective practice.

Vishishtadvaita: Śāstra-guided action is a means of aligning the jīva with Bhagavān’s niyati (cosmic order), supporting disciplined devotion rather than antinomianism.

Characters & Entities

• Keśidhvaja
• Dvija (brahmin)
• Dharma (sacred law)
• Prāyaścitta (atonement)

FAQs

What is the significance of prāyaścitta (atonement) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights that wrongdoing is addressed through dharmically prescribed expiation, restoring moral order rather than leaving guilt unresolved.

How does Sage Parāśara explain dharma in narrative form here?

Parāśara presents dharma as a precise, rule-governed tradition: a learned brahmin instructs a king in the complete, authorized procedure for expiation.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s worldview assumes dharma as part of Vishnu’s cosmic sovereignty—order is maintained through rightful law and corrective rites.