Shloka 30

प्रियव्रतवंशवर्णनम् — सप्तद्वीपविभागः, जम्बूद्वीप-वर्षविभागः, भरत-नामकरणम्

Devanagari script

तपसा कर्षितो ऽत्यर्थं कृशो धमनिसंततः नग्नो वीटां मुखे दत्त्वा वीराध्वानं ततो गतः

Transliteration

tapasā karṣito 'tyarthaṃ kṛśo dhamanisaṃtataḥ nagno vīṭāṃ mukhe dattvā vīrādhvānaṃ tato gataḥ

Translation

Dikikis hebat oleh tapa, tubuhnya kurus kering dengan urat-urat menonjol; dia berjalan tanpa pakaian. Setelah meletakkan secebis makanan ke dalam mulut, dia pun berangkat menempuh jalan para wira.

Word by Word

तपसाby austerity

कर्षितःemaciated/dragged down

अत्यर्थम्excessively, very much

कृशःthin, lean

धमनिसंततःwith veins stretched/prominent

नग्नःnaked

वीटाम्a morsel/bit (of food)

मुखेin (his) mouth

दत्त्वाhaving put/given

वीराध्वानम्the hero’s path/journey

ततःthen, thereafter

गतःwent

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Bhū-gola/varṣa-nāma-nirukti and the account of Bharata’s renunciation

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True heroism is the resolute abandonment of comfort through tapas and the turning of life toward spiritual striving.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice disciplined simplicity (food, speech, habits) and redirect daily effort toward sustained sādhanā rather than status.

Vishishtadvaita: Renunciation is meaningful when oriented to the Lord as the inner goal of yoga, not as mere self-mortification.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of tapas (austerity) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse depicts tapas as an all-consuming discipline that strips away bodily comfort, presenting renunciation and endurance as a means to pursue a higher dharmic aim.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the idea of the “heroic path” (vīrādhvāna)?

Here it is shown as steadfast forward movement despite hardship—choosing resolve over comfort—suggesting heroism as moral and spiritual courage, not merely physical strength.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purāṇic framework assumes dharma and disciplined striving ultimately align with Vishnu’s sovereign order, where right conduct supports cosmic stability.