Shloka 34

स्वाध्याय-योगोपदेशः तथा केशिध्वज-खाण्डिक्य-उपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

विदितार्थः स तेनैव अनुज्ञातो महात्मना यागभूमिम् उपागम्य चक्रे सर्वाः क्रियाः क्रमात्

Transliteration

viditārthaḥ sa tenaiva anujñāto mahātmanā yāgabhūmim upāgamya cakre sarvāḥ kriyāḥ kramāt

Translation

Having fully understood the matter and received the permission of that great-souled one, he approached the sacrificial ground and, in the order enjoined by dharma, performed all the rites in due sequence.

Word by Word

• विदितार्थः: one who knows the matter/purpose
• विदितार्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विदित (√विद्, क्त-कृदन्त) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (विदितः अर्थः यस्य सः)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तेन: by him/with him
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• अनुज्ञातः: permitted/authorized
• अनुज्ञातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु√ज्ञा (धातु) → अनुज्ञात (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• महात्मना: by the great-souled one
• महात्मना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• यागभूमिम्: the sacrificial ground
• यागभूमिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याग (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (यागस्य भूमिः)

• उपागम्य: having approached
• उपागम्य: Kriya (Gerund/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप√गम् (धातु) → उपागम्य (ल्यप्-कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having approached’

• चक्रे: performed/did
• चक्रे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• क्रियाः: rites/actions
• क्रियाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• क्रमात्: in due order
• क्रमात्: Adverbial (Kriya-vishesana/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे पञ्चमी-एकवचनप्रयोगः (ablatival adverb): ‘in order/step by step’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating) to Maitreya

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right action is to be performed in the ordained order with permission of the worthy and in conformity with dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Seek proper guidance, then execute responsibilities methodically rather than impulsively.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma as service done under the Lord’s ordinance (niyati) aligns the finite agent with the divine order.

FAQs

What is the significance of performing rites "in order" (kramāt) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights that sacred action must follow an ordained sequence; ritual order mirrors dharma—maintaining cosmic and social stability through disciplined, rule-governed conduct.

How does Sage Parāśara explain proper dharmic action in narrative contexts?

Parāśara often shows dharma through exemplary behavior: understanding the instruction, receiving authorization from a revered elder, then executing duties at the proper place (yāgabhūmi) with correct procedure.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Vishnu Purana treats dharma and yajna as expressions of the Supreme Order sustained by Vishnu; correct ritual action becomes a lived alignment with that supreme governance of reality.