Shloka 37

शरद्वर्णनं, योगोपमा, तथा गोवर्धन-यज्ञप्रवर्तनम्

Devanagari script

मन्त्रयज्ञपरा विप्राः सीरयज्ञाश् च कर्षकाः गिरिगोयज्ञशीलाश् च वयम् अद्रिवनाश्रयाः

Transliteration

mantrayajñaparā viprāḥ sīrayajñāś ca karṣakāḥ girigoyajñaśīlāś ca vayam adrivanāśrayāḥ

Translation

பிராமணர்கள் மந்திர யாகத்தில் ஈடுபடுவர்; உழவர்கள் கலப்பை-யாகமாக உழுவர்; மலை-காடு வாழும் நாங்கள், மலைக்கும் மாடுகளுக்கும் உரிய யாக அர்ப்பணங்களில் நாட்டமுடையோர்।

Word by Word

• मन्त्रयज्ञपराः: devoted to mantra-sacrifices
• मन्त्रयज्ञपराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्रयज्ञे पराः = devoted to mantra-sacrifice)

• विप्राः: Brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सीरयज्ञाः: devoted to plough-rites
• सीरयज्ञाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सीर (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सीरयज्ञाः = plough-sacrifice/agrarian rites)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कर्षकाः: farmers
• कर्षकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• गिरिगोयज्ञशीलाः: accustomed to rites for the mountain and cows
• गिरिगोयज्ञशीलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + गो (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गिरिगोयज्ञे शीलाः = accustomed to mountain-and-cow worship/sacrifice)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• अद्रिवनाश्रयाः: dwelling in the mountain-forests
• अद्रिवनाश्रयाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अद्रिवनम् आश्रयः येषां/अद्रिवनम् आश्रिताः)

Speaker

Likely forest/mountain-dwelling people being described within Parasara’s narration to Maitreya (Vishnu Purana dialogue frame: Parasara → Maitreya).

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas (vipra)
• Farmers (karshaka)
• Forest/mountain dwellers (adrivanāśraya)

FAQs

What is the significance of yajña in this verse of the Vishnu Purana?

It broadens yajña beyond ritual fire-sacrifice: mantra-recitation, agriculture, and forest/herd-based living are all portrayed as duty-forms that uphold social and cosmic order.

How does Sage Parasara explain dharma through different ways of life here?

By presenting distinct ‘yajñas’ for priests, cultivators, and forest-dwellers, the narrative implies that dharma adapts to one’s role and environment while still serving the same sustaining principle.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the line, the Purana’s framework treats such ordered duties as participation in the Lord’s sustaining power—Vishnu as the Supreme Reality who maintains harmony through dharmic action.