Shloka 13

परमार्थ-निर्णयः—श्रेयस्-भेदः, कर्म-ध्यान-सीमा, एकात्मदर्शनम्

Devanagari script

देवताराधनं कृत्वा धनसंपदम् इच्छति पुत्रान् इच्छति राज्यं च श्रेयस् तत्प्राप्तिलक्षणम्

Transliteration

devatārādhanaṃ kṛtvā dhanasaṃpadam icchati putrān icchati rājyaṃ ca śreyas tatprāptilakṣaṇam

Translation

เมื่อบูชาเทพทั้งหลายแล้ว มนุษย์ย่อมปรารถนาทรัพย์และความรุ่งเรือง ปรารถนาบุตร และปรารถนาราชสมบัติด้วย—แต่ศฺเรยัสอันแท้จริงรู้ได้จากเครื่องหมายว่า มันพาให้ก้าวพ้นการได้มาทั้งปวงไปสู่การบรรลุของมันเอง

Word by Word

• देवताराधनम्: worship of deities
• देवताराधनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता + आराधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवतायाः आराधनम्)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Sambandha (Gerundial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• धनसंपदम्: wealth and prosperity
• धनसंपदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन + संपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (संपद्), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (धनस्य संपद् = wealth/prosperity)

• इच्छति: desires
• इच्छति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• इच्छति: desires
• इच्छति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• राज्यम्: kingdom/sovereignty
• राज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• श्रेयः: the true good (welfare)
• श्रेयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्प्राप्तिलक्षणम्: characterized by attaining that (result)
• तत्प्राप्तिलक्षणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् + प्राप्ति + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तस्य प्राप्तिः यस्य लक्षणम् = having the mark of obtaining that)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worship aimed at wealth, progeny, and kingship is desire-driven; true śreyas is recognized by its capacity to carry one beyond acquisitions to the highest attainment.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Perform religious practice with purified intention—seek inner transformation and devotion rather than transactional rewards.

Vishishtadvaita: Finite prosperity (śrī) is legitimate but subordinate; the highest good is loving orientation to Bhagavān as the final goal, not merely boons.

Vaishnava Theology

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Devas (gods)
• Worshipper/householder (implicit)

FAQs

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

Śreyas is presented as the “higher good” distinct from wealth, sons, and royal power; it is recognized by the characteristic that it leads to its own attainment beyond merely worldly rewards.

How does Sage Parāśara explain desire-based worship here?

He notes that people often worship the gods seeking tangible outcomes—prosperity, progeny, and rulership—implying a contrast between such goal-driven ritual and the pursuit of śreyas.

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

Even when worship is directed toward devas for results, the Purana’s broader teaching places ultimate fulfillment in the supreme reality (Vishnu) and in śreyas—liberation—rather than in transient gains like wealth or sovereignty.