Shloka 44

अविद्याबीज-निरूपणं, योगस्वरूप-उपदेशः, मूर्तहरिधारणा-समाधि, जनकवंशीय-राजर्षिसंवादः

Devanagari script

वश्यता परमा तेन जायते ऽतिचलात्मनाम् इन्द्रियाणाम् अवश्यैस् तैर् न योगी योगसाधकः

Transliteration

vaśyatā paramā tena jāyate 'ticalātmanām indriyāṇām avaśyais tair na yogī yogasādhakaḥ

Translation

From that disciplined practice arises the highest mastery over the senses, whose nature is restless and ever-wandering; but one who is helpless before those ungoverned senses is not a yogin, nor even a true seeker of yoga.

Word by Word

• वश्यता: control, subjugation
• वश्यता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with ‘वश्यता’

• तेन: by that, thereby
• तेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘by that/thereby’

• जायते: arises, is born
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• अतिचलात्मनाम्: of those whose minds are very restless
• अतिचलात्मनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + चल (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (अतिचलाः आत्मानः येषाम्)

• इन्द्रियाणाम्: of the senses
• इन्द्रियाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• अवश्यैः: uncontrollable
• अवश्यैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; qualifies ‘इन्द्रियैः’ (understood)

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; refers to senses

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• योगी: a yogin
• योगी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• योगसाधकः: practitioner of yoga
• योगसाधकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (योगं साधयति)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Criterion of a true yogin: mastery over restless senses

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Supreme control of the inherently fickle senses arises from discipline; one ruled by uncontrolled senses is neither yogin nor genuine yoga-seeker.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Set clear vows (sleep, diet, speech, media), observe lapses without excuse-making, and rebuild steady habits supporting meditation.

Vishishtadvaita: Ethical self-mastery is treated as a necessary support for God-centered contemplation, not as independent self-salvation.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of sense-control in the Vishnu Purana’s yoga teaching?

This verse defines authentic yoga as requiring supreme mastery over the inherently restless senses; without such restraint, one cannot be considered a yogin or even a true yoga-aspirant.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the qualification for being a yogin?

Parāśara frames qualification in practical terms: the senses must be brought under control through disciplined means; if the senses remain ungoverned and dominate the person, the status of yogin is denied.

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

In Ansha 6, yoga is oriented toward moksha—union with and realization of the Supreme Reality; sense-mastery is presented as a necessary inner sovereignty that supports contemplation of Vishnu as the highest goal.