Shloka 11

विष्ण्वाराधन-फलम् तथा वर्णधर्माः

Worship of Vishnu through Varṇa-dharma

Devanagari script

तस्मात् सदाचारवता पुरुषेण जनार्दनः आराध्यते स्ववर्णोक्तधर्मानुष्ठानकारिणा

Transliteration

tasmāt sadācāravatā puruṣeṇa janārdanaḥ ārādhyate svavarṇoktadharmānuṣṭhānakāriṇā

Translation

અતએવ સદાચારવાળો પુરુષ—જે પોતાના વર્ણ માટે નિર્ધારિત ધર્મનું નિષ્ઠાપૂર્વક અનુષ્ઠાન કરે છે—તેના દ્વારા જનાર્દન આરાધિત થાય છે; તેનું શિસ્તબદ્ધ ધર્મ જ પરમાત્માને અર્પણ બની જાય છે।

Word by Word

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति निपातवत् प्रयोगः; अपादान/हेतुवाचकः (therefore/from that)

• sadācāravatā: by one of good conduct
• sadācāravatā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat + ācāra + vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः; तृतीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (with good conduct)

• puruṣeṇa: by a man/person
• puruṣeṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः; तृतीया एकवचनम्

• janārdanaḥ: Janārdana (Vishnu)
• janārdanaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janārdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः; प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• ārādhyate: is worshipped
• ārādhyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√rādh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकालः); आत्मनेपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

• svavarṇokta-dharma-anuṣṭhāna-kāriṇā: by one who performs the duties prescribed for his own varṇa
• svavarṇokta-dharma-anuṣṭhāna-kāriṇā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva + varṇa + ukta + dharma + anuṣṭhāna + kārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः; तृतीया एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (svavarṇena uktaḥ dharmaḥ; tasya anuṣṭhānaṃ; tasya kārī)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How Janārdana is worshipped through disciplined conduct and performance of one’s own varṇa-dharma

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Janārdana is worshipped when a person established in right conduct performs the duties prescribed for their station as an offering.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat daily responsibilities as īśvara-arpana: do them honestly, without harm, and without craving for praise.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti is expressed through dharma as service to the Lord who is the inner ruler and recipient of all rightful action.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Dharma
• Varna (social order)

FAQs

What is the significance of sadācāra (right conduct) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents sadācāra as a direct mode of worship: ethical living and disciplined behavior are not merely social virtues but a devotional offering that pleases Janārdana.

How does Sage Parāśara explain worship through varṇa-dharma here?

Parāśara frames the performance of one’s prescribed duties (svavarṇokta-dharma) as ārādhanā itself—Vishnu is honored when dharma is enacted with steadiness and integrity.

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

Vishnu is portrayed as the sovereign Supreme who is approached through the maintenance of cosmic and social order; devotion is expressed not only by ritual but by living dharma as service to Him.