Shloka 37

Devanagari script

स्वाध्यायशौचसंतोषतपांसि नियतात्मवान् कुर्वीत ब्रह्मणि तथा परस्मिन् प्रवणं मनः

Transliteration

svādhyāyaśaucasaṃtoṣatapāṃsi niyatātmavān kurvīta brahmaṇi tathā parasmin pravaṇaṃ manaḥ

Translation

Let the self-controlled one practice sacred study, purity, contentment, and austerity; and let his mind incline again and again toward Parabrahman, the Supreme Reality.

Word by Word

• स्वाध्याय: self-study
• स्वाध्याय: Samasa-member (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• शौच: purity
• शौच: Samasa-member (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• संतोष: contentment
• संतोष: Samasa-member (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संतोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• तपांसि: (the observances of) self-study, purity, contentment, and austerities
• तपांसि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः: स्वाध्याय+शौच+संतोष+तपांसि (इतर-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयः)

• नियतात्मवान्: self-controlled
• नियतात्मवान्: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत+आत्मवत् (प्रातिपदिक); समासः: नियत + आत्मन् + वत्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अध्याहृतः कर्ता/योगी)

• कुर्वीत: should do/practice
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्मणि: in Brahman
• ब्रह्मणि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• परस्मिन्: in the Supreme
• परस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Locus-qualifier/अधिकरणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्रह्मणि)

• प्रवणम्: inclined/intent
• प्रवणम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मनः)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Yoga-sādhana: niyamas and the mind’s inclination to the Supreme

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Through niyamas—svādhyāya, śauca, saṃtoṣa, tapas—the disciplined seeker repeatedly turns the mind toward the Supreme Brahman.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Keep a daily cycle: brief scripture study, cleanliness in habits, gratitude journaling for contentment, and small voluntary austerities to redirect attention to the Supreme.

Vishishtadvaita: ‘Brahman’ is treated as the personal Supreme (para) toward whom the mind must incline—supporting Vishishtadvaita’s Brahman as the object of loving, sustained contemplation.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Para (Supreme Reality)

FAQs

What is the significance of svādhyāya, śauca, santoṣa, and tapas in the Vishnu Purana?

They are practical disciplines that purify conduct and stabilize the seeker, preparing the mind to rest in the Supreme Reality (Para/Brahman) rather than in transient objects.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the method of liberation in this chapter?

He emphasizes inner restraint and steady practice—study, purity, contentment, and austerity—culminating in a mind that naturally inclines toward the Supreme (Para Brahman).

What is the theological importance of the Supreme (Para/Brahman) here for Vaishnava thought?

The verse frames liberation as devotion of consciousness to the Supreme Reality; in Vaishnava reading, this Supreme is identified with Vishnu as the highest principle worthy of unwavering mental orientation.