Shloka 5

स्वाध्याय-योगोपदेशः तथा केशिध्वज-खाण्डिक्य-उपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

यथा केशिध्वजः प्राह खाण्डिक्याय महात्मने जनकाय पुरा योगं तथाहं कथयामि ते

Transliteration

yathā keśidhvajaḥ prāha khāṇḍikyāya mahātmane janakāya purā yogaṃ tathāhaṃ kathayāmi te

Translation

As Keśidhvaja once taught the Yoga discipline to the great-souled Khāṇḍikya and to King Janaka of old, so now I shall declare that Yoga to you.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Correlative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय — indeclinable “as/just as”

• केशिध्वजः: Keśidhvaja
• केशिध्वजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशिध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन — masculine, nominative, singular (proper name)

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्ण), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — perfect, 3rd person singular

• खाण्डिक्याय: to Khāṇḍikya
• खाण्डिक्याय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खाण्डिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन — masculine, dative, singular

• महात्मने: to the great-souled one
• महात्मने: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन — masculine, dative, singular

• जनकाय: to Janaka
• जनकाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन — masculine, dative, singular

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय — adverb of time “formerly/once”

• योगम्: yoga
• योगम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन — masculine, accusative, singular

• तथा: so/thus
• तथा: Sambandha (Correlative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय — indeclinable “thus/so”

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन — nominative, singular

• कथयामि: I narrate / tell
• कथयामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु, णिजन्त)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — present indicative, 1st person singular

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन — dative, singular (“to you”)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Answering the request for the Yoga leading to realization of the Supreme by citing an ancient royal teaching lineage.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative, traditional

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yoga is preserved through a recognized lineage (paramparā), and even kings like Janaka received and embodied it.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Seek guidance from a trustworthy teaching lineage and integrate inner discipline with one’s worldly duties.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms that liberating knowledge is compatible with embodied life and social role, implying the Lord’s grace-mediated accessibility through instruction.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Jnana-yoga integrated with kingship (rāja-dharma with adhyātma).

Key Kings: Keśidhvaja, Khāṇḍikya, Janaka

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Keśidhvaja
• Khāṇḍikya
• Janaka

FAQs

What is the significance of Keśidhvaja and Janaka being mentioned in this Vishnu Purana verse?

They function as authoritative exemplars of yoga taught within royal lineages—showing that liberation-oriented discipline is compatible with kingship and worldly duty.

How does Sage Parāśara explain yoga in this chapter’s dialogue structure?

Parāśara frames his instruction to Maitreya as a faithful transmission of an older, respected teaching line associated with Keśidhvaja and Janaka, establishing continuity and credibility before detailing the practice.

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

Even when the verse foregrounds “yoga,” the Vishnu Purana’s moksha-yoga is ultimately oriented toward realizing the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—as the final refuge and goal of liberation.