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Shloka 79

Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon

हीना: सत्त्वेन शुद्धेन ततो वैकारिका: स्मृता: । नृपश्रेष्ठ॒ देवता और ऋषि कामनायुक्त सत्त्वगुणमें स्थित होते हैं। उनमें भी शुद्ध सत्त्गगुणकी कमी होती है, इसलिये वे वैकारिक माने जाते हैं || ७८ $ ।।

hīnāḥ sattvena śuddhena tato vaikārikāḥ smṛtāḥ | janamejaya uvāca kathaṃ vaikāriko gacchet puruṣaḥ puruṣottamam |

वे शुद्ध सत्त्व से हीन होते हैं, इसलिए ‘वैकारिक’ कहे जाते हैं। तब जनमेजय ने पूछा—हे पुरुषोत्तम! वैकारिक प्रकृति वाला पुरुष किस प्रकार पुरुषोत्तम को प्राप्त कर सकता है?

हीनाःdeficient, lacking
हीनाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootहीन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सत्त्वेनby/with (the) sattva quality
सत्त्वेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसत्त्व
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
शुद्धेनpure
शुद्धेन:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootशुद्ध
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
ततःtherefore, from that
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
वैकारिकाःsubject to modification; vikāra-born
वैकारिकाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवैकारिक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
स्मृताःare considered/are said (to be)
स्मृताः:
TypeVerb
Rootस्मृत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
जनमेजयःJanamejaya
जनमेजयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजनमेजय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular
कथम्how?
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
वैकारिकःone who is vaikārika
वैकारिकः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवैकारिक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
गच्छेत्might go / should go
गच्छेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootगम्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular
पुरुषःa person
पुरुषः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पुरुषोत्तमम्the Supreme Person
पुरुषोत्तमम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुषोत्तम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

जनमेजय उवाच

J
Janamejaya
P
Puruṣottama

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights that certain exalted states are still not perfectly pure in sattva; spiritual attainment requires transcending even refined but incomplete purity. It sets up the inquiry into the means by which a mixed or derivative constitution (vaikārika) can reach the Supreme Person.

After a statement classifying beings as ‘vaikārika’ due to lack of fully pure sattva, King Janamejaya asks a follow-up question: how such a person can attain Puruṣottama. The dialogue is moving toward practical and doctrinal guidance on the path to the highest goal.