Shloka 37

स्वाध्याय-योगोपदेशः तथा केशिध्वज-खाण्डिक्य-उपाख्यानम्

Yoga through Study and Restraint; The Keśidhvaja–Khāṇḍikya Narrative Frame

Devanagari script

यथार्हम् अत्र लोकस्य मया सर्वं विचेष्टितम् अनिष्पन्नक्रियं चेतस् तथापि मम किं यथा

Transliteration

yathārham atra lokasya mayā sarvaṃ viceṣṭitam aniṣpannakriyaṃ cetas tathāpi mama kiṃ yathā

Translation

ในโลกนี้ ข้าพเจ้าได้พยายามทุกประการตามฐานะอันสมควรแล้ว แต่จิตของข้าพเจ้ายังรู้สึกเหมือนกิจยังไม่สำเร็จ ถึงกระนั้น ข้าพเจ้าจะได้อะไรอีกเล่า และจะเป็นไปอย่างอื่นได้อย่างไร

Word by Word

• यथार्हम्: as appropriate
• यथार्हम्: Adverbial (Kriya-vishesana/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः (यथाऽर्हम्) क्रियाविशेषण: ‘as is proper’

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adverbial (Desha/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place): ‘here’

• लोकस्य: of the people/world
• लोकस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनामसदृश-विशेष्यप्रयोगः

• विचेष्टितम्: was carried out/attempted
• विचेष्टितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√चेष्ट् (धातु) → विचेष्टित (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘done/endeavored’ (as predicate to सर्वम्)

• अनिष्पन्नक्रियम्: with rites unfinished
• अनिष्पन्नक्रियम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्- (नञ्) + निष्पन्न (नि√पद्/√पद्, क्त-कृदन्त) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (अनिष्पन्ना क्रिया यस्य तत्)

• चेतः: mind/heart
• चेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तथापि: nevertheless
• तथापि: Avyaya (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययसमूह (concessive): ‘even so/however’

• मम: my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• यथा: how
• यथा: Adverbial (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (interrogative/comparative adverb): ‘how/in what way’

Speaker

Uncertain (likely a reflective speaker within the Ansha 6 discourse as narrated by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya)

FAQs

What is the significance of incomplete action (aniṣpannakriya) in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights that worldly effort, even when appropriate and diligent, often fails to satisfy the mind; this becomes a prompt toward detachment and liberation-focused inquiry.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the problem of mental dissatisfaction (cetas) in this context?

Through reflective statements like this, the teaching frames dissatisfaction as intrinsic to worldly pursuit, steering the listener toward steadiness, discernment, and ultimately dependence on the Supreme (Viṣṇu) rather than outcomes.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

The verse supports the Vaishnava conclusion that fulfillment is not secured by mere human striving; lasting completion belongs to alignment with, and refuge in, Viṣṇu as the supreme ground of order and liberation.