Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

कपिलादानजनितं पुण्यम् अत्यन्तदुर्लभम् श्रुत्वा त्व् अस्य दशाध्यायान् अवाप्नोति न संशयः

Transliteration

kapilādānajanitaṃ puṇyam atyantadurlabham śrutvā tv asya daśādhyāyān avāpnoti na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

The merit born of gifting a tawny cow (kapilā-dāna) is exceedingly rare; yet by hearing these ten chapters one surely attains that very merit—of this there is no doubt.

Word by Word

• कपिलादानजनितम्: arising from the gift of a cow
• कपिलादानजनितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + जनित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कपिलादानात् जनितम्)

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अत्यन्तदुर्लभम्: extremely rare
• अत्यन्तदुर्लभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत्यन्त (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अत्यन्तं दुर्लभम्)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle; contrast/emphasis)

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दशाध्यायान्: the ten chapters
• दशाध्यायान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (दश अध्यायाः)

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव+आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya) — phalaśruti section

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Phala-śruti: equivalence of hearing these ten chapters to rare ritual merit (kapilā-dāna)

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: persuasive and promissory

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa of the specified section yields the same rare puṇya as kapilā-dāna, underscoring accessible devotion over costly ritual.

Vedantic Theme: Karma

Application: If elaborate donations/rituals are impractical, substitute steady listening/reading and support of teaching institutions as a sincere offering.

Vishishtadvaita: Ritual merit is not negated but is ‘fulfilled’ by devotion-centered śravaṇa, aligning karma with surrender to the Supreme.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of kapilā-dāna mentioned in the Vishnu Purana?

It is cited as a highly meritorious gift in dharma literature; this verse uses it as a benchmark to highlight that hearing these chapters grants an equivalent (or assured) spiritual merit.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the power of śravaṇa (hearing) here?

In the phalaśruti, Parāśara states that simply hearing a defined portion—these ten chapters—confers rare merit, emphasizing accessible dharma through attentive listening.

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

By exalting the act of hearing the Purana, the verse underscores Vishnu-centered sacred narration as a direct means to purification and dharmic merit, aligning devotion and scriptural listening with the supreme spiritual goal.