Shloka 6

Devanagari script

धर्मो विमुक्तेर् अर्हो ऽयं नैतस्माद् अपरः परः अत्रैवावस्थिताः स्वर्गं विमुक्तिं वा गमिष्यथ

Transliteration

dharmo vimukter arho 'yaṃ naitasmād aparaḥ paraḥ atraivāvasthitāḥ svargaṃ vimuktiṃ vā gamiṣyatha

Translation

ఈ ధర్మమే విముక్తికి యోగ్యమైన మార్గం; దీనికంటే పైగా మరొక ఉన్నత పథం లేదు, మరొక శ్రేష్ఠ సాధనం లేదు. ఇందులో స్థిరంగా ఉంటే ఇక్కడినుంచే స్వర్గం గానీ, పరమ విముక్తి గానీ పొందుతారు.

Word by Word

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विमुक्तेः: of liberation
• विमुक्तेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अर्हः: fit, worthy (a means)
• अर्हः: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (धर्मः)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• एतस्मात्: from this
• एतस्मात्: Apadana (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अपरः: other, different
• अपरः: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (परः)

• परः: (any) superior/other (means)
• परः: Karta (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘श्रेष्ठः/अन्यः’ (predicate nominal)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अवस्थिताः: remaining, staying
• अवस्थिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past participle, active sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘स्थिताः’

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विमुक्तिम्: liberation
• विमुक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• गमिष्यथ: you will go/attain
• गमिष्यथ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma, firmly practiced here and now, is declared the unsurpassed means leading to either svarga (heavenly fruition) or vimukti (final release).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Commit to consistent ethical living and restraint without postponing practice; treat everyday duties as the field where liberation-oriented character is formed.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms a graded fruit structure (svarga/vimukti) while implying that the same dharmic life, when oriented to the Supreme, culminates in moksha—compatible with qualified non-dualism’s emphasis on disciplined surrender.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of Dharma as a path to liberation in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse declares Dharma to be the most worthy and unsurpassed means leading to moksha, presenting righteous order as the direct route to ultimate freedom.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the relationship between Svarga and Vimukti here?

He states that steadfastness in Dharma yields two possible fruits—heavenly enjoyment (svarga) or liberation (vimukti)—depending on one’s spiritual maturity and orientation.

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

Though not named in the verse, Dharma in the Vishnu Purana is grounded in Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty; living by Dharma is living in harmony with the Supreme Reality that upholds the cosmos.