Shloka 49

स्वाध्याय-योगोपदेशः तथा केशिध्वज-खाण्डिक्य-उपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

यदि चेद् दीयते मह्यं भवता गुरुनिष्क्रयः तत् क्लेशप्रशमायालं यत् कर्म तद् उदीरय

Transliteration

yadi ced dīyate mahyaṃ bhavatā guruniṣkrayaḥ tat kleśapraśamāyālaṃ yat karma tad udīraya

Translation

If indeed you would grant me the means to be released from the burden of what is due to the teacher, then declare to me that practice—sufficient in itself—that brings the pacification of suffering.

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• चेत्: if indeed
• चेत्: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्त/सम्भावनार्थक-निपात (conditional particle)

• दीयते: is given
• दीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• मह्यम्: to me
• मह्यम्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Karana/Agent-in-passive (Instrument/कर्ता-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• गुरुनिष्क्रयः: the ransom/price for the guru
• गुरुनिष्क्रयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्क्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गुरोः निष्क्रयः)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• क्लेशप्रशमाय: for the pacification of suffering
• क्लेशप्रशमाय: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रशम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्लेशस्य प्रशमः)

• अलम्: enough; sufficient
• अलम्: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पर्याप्त्यर्थक-निपात (enough/sufficient)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• कर्म: act; deed
• कर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तत्: that (corresponding)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तद्-सम्बन्ध (correlative)

• उदीरय: declare; state
• उदीरय: Kriya (Command/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-ईर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Maitreya (the disciple), addressing Sage Parāśara

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: Request for a self-sufficient sādhana that pacifies kleśa and serves as true release from the burden of what is due to the guru (guruniṣkraya).

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: supplicatory and truth-seeking

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One should seek a direct and sufficient practice (sādhana) aimed at kleśa-praśama, i.e., the quelling of suffering that binds the self.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Approach a qualified teacher with humility and ask for a single, steady daily discipline that reduces agitation and attachment, then practice it consistently.

Vishishtadvaita: Liberation is pursued through a taught upāya received by grace and instruction, with the self as dependent (śeṣa) upon the Supreme.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Guru (Teacher)
• Maitreya
• Parasara

FAQs

What is the significance of seeking 'kleśa-praśamana' (cessation of suffering) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames the spiritual quest as the calming of existential affliction, positioning liberation-oriented practice as the central aim of Ansha 6.

How does Sage Parāśara’s dialogue structure guide Maitreya’s request here?

Maitreya approaches as a disciple seeking a definitive, sufficient discipline; the verse functions as a prompt for Parāśara to articulate the liberating means (sādhana) within the guru-disciple tradition.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, Ansha 6 typically orients the liberating practice toward the Supreme Reality identified with Vishnu, implying that true peace culminates in alignment with or realization of Vishnu’s highest nature.