Shloka 21

Commencement of the Upari-bhāga: The Sages Request Brahma-vidyā; Vyāsa Recalls the Badarikā Inquiry and Śiva–Viṣṇu Theophany

Devanagari script

विज्ञाय वाञ्छितं तेषां भगवानपि सर्ववित् / प्राह गम्भीरया वाचा किमर्थं तप्यते तपः

Transliteration

vijñāya vāñchitaṃ teṣāṃ bhagavānapi sarvavit / prāha gambhīrayā vācā kimarthaṃ tapyate tapaḥ

Translation

Nang mabatid ng Mapalad na Panginoon, ang Nakaaalam sa lahat, ang kanilang ninanais, nagsalita Siya sa malalim na tinig: “Sa anong layunin isinasagawa ang pag-aayuno at pagninilay na ito?”

Word by Word

• vijñāya: having understood
• vijñāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from vi-√jñā; indeclinable verbal form meaning 'having known'

• vāñchitam: the desired (thing)
• vāñchitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāñchita (प्रातिपदिक; √vāñch + क्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle used substantively

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); pronoun

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular; honorific epithet

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) expressing addition/emphasis

• sarvavit: the all-knowing one
• sarvavit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय-प्राय) 'all-knowing' used as epithet

• prāha: said
• prāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada; irregular perfect of √ah 'to say'

• gambhīrayā: with a deep
• gambhīrayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gambhīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular; adjective qualifying vācā

• vācā: voice/speech
• vācā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; interrogative used in compound with artham

• artham: purpose/for the sake
• artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; with kim = 'for what purpose'

• tapyate: is being practiced (as austerity)
• tapyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tap (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Singular; ātmanepada/passive-like usage 'is performed/undergoes austerity'

• tapaḥ: austerity/penance
• tapaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Bhagavan (Lord Kurma/Vishnu as the omniscient Lord addressing the ascetics/sages)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan
• Sarvavit (omniscient Lord)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

It presents the Lord as sarvavit (omniscient Īśvara), implying a consciousness that knows the inner intention behind actions—tapas must be aligned with the highest aim rather than mere external hardship.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds tapas as a yogic discipline and immediately questions its prayojana (purpose), aligning with Yoga-shāstra’s insistence that practice be guided by right intention (samyak-saṅkalpa) and a clear spiritual goal.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By using the universal category “Bhagavān” as the omniscient Lord who governs tapas and its fruits, the Purana frames divine authority in an inclusive way that supports Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis: the same Īśvara is the source and knower of spiritual striving.