Shloka 3

उपसंहारः, वैष्णवपुराण-प्रशंसा, फलश्रुति, परम्परा-प्रवहः (पाठ-श्रवण-फलम्)

Devanagari script

पुराणं वैष्णवं त्व् एतत् सर्वकिल्बिषनाशनम् विशिष्टं सर्वशास्त्रेभ्यः पुरुषार्थोपपादकम्

Transliteration

purāṇaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ tv etat sarvakilbiṣanāśanam viśiṣṭaṃ sarvaśāstrebhyaḥ puruṣārthopapādakam

Translation

This Vaishnava Purāṇa truly destroys every stain of sin. Distinguished above all scriptures, it establishes the path to the true aims of human life.

Word by Word

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa; ancient lore/text
• पुराणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular)

• वैष्णवम्: Vaiṣṇava; pertaining to Viṣṇu
• वैष्णवम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; adjectival)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (indeclinable particle; emphatic/contrast)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshya (Correlative/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter pronoun, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• सर्वकिल्बिषनाशनम्: destroyer of all sins
• सर्वकिल्बिषनाशनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + किल्बिष + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वकिल्बिषस्य नाशनम्) (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; genitive tatpuruṣa)

• विशिष्टम्: excellent; distinguished
• विशिष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशिष्ट (कृदन्त; √शिष्/√शास्? 'to distinguish'—past participle used adjectivally)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; past passive participle used as adjective)

• सर्वशास्त्रेभ्यः: from all śāstras; than all treatises
• सर्वशास्त्रेभ्यः: Apadana (Ablative of comparison/source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Ablative, Plural); कर्मधारय (सर्वाणि शास्त्राणि)

• पुरुषार्थोपपादकम्: establishing/expounding the aims of human life
• पुरुषार्थोपपादकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरुषार्थ + उपपादक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुरुषार्थस्य उपपादकम्) (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; genitive tatpuruṣa)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in dialogue with Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Eulogy of the Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa as sin-destroying and uniquely capable of establishing the puruṣārthas.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa purifies moral stain (kilbiṣa) and is preeminent because it effectively establishes the puruṣārthas—especially dharma and mokṣa—through devotion to Viṣṇu.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Use sacred study (śravaṇa) and remembrance of Viṣṇu-centered teachings as daily purification, aligning life-goals with dharma and liberation rather than mere utility.

Vishishtadvaita: Scripture is efficacious because the Lord’s grace is mediated through His names, narratives, and teachings; devotion becomes a real means to liberation while preserving the soul’s distinctness within divine lordship.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Purana
• Shastra
• Purusharthas

FAQs

What is the significance of the Vishnu Purana being called 'sarva-kilbiṣa-nāśanam'?

This verse frames the Vishnu Purana as spiritually purifying—its recitation, study, and internalization are said to remove moral and karmic taints by reorienting the mind toward Vishnu and dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the purpose of the Vishnu Purana to Maitreya here?

Parāśara presents it as uniquely authoritative among śāstras because it both teaches and substantiates the puruṣārthas, culminating in mokṣa grounded in Vishnu-centered understanding.

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

Vishnu is implied as the supreme reality and final refuge: a text devoted to Him is portrayed as uniquely capable of guiding human life’s goals and leading to liberation.