Shloka 44

भरतचरितम्—मृगासक्ति-हेतुकः समाधिभङ्गः, जातिस्मरत्वं, रहूगण-जाḍभरत-संवादः

Devanagari script

हिरण्यगर्भवचनं विचिन्त्येत्थं महामतिः आत्मानं दर्शयाम् आस जडोन्मत्ताकृतिं जने

Transliteration

hiraṇyagarbhavacanaṃ vicintyetthaṃ mahāmatiḥ ātmānaṃ darśayām āsa jaḍonmattākṛtiṃ jane

Translation

یوں ہِرَنیہ گربھ کے اقوال پر غور کرکے اُس عظیم فہم نے لوگوں کے درمیان اپنے آپ کو جڑ اور دیوانہ سا ظاہر کرنا شروع کیا—باطن کے مقصد کو ظاہر کے پردے میں چھپاتے ہوئے۔

Word by Word

• हिरण्यगर्भवचनम्: the words of Hiraṇyagarbha
• हिरण्यगर्भवचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्यगर्भ + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('of Hiraṇyagarbha' + 'speech/words')

• विचिन्त्य: having reflected upon
• विचिन्त्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विचिन्त्य (कृदन्त; वि + √चिन्त् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable)

• इत्थम्: thus/in this manner
• इत्थम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (manner adverb)

• महामतिः: the great-minded one
• महामतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• आत्मानम्: himself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दर्शयाम्: showed/caused to be seen
• दर्शयाम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; परिप्रयोगः: 'दर्शयाम् आस' = परिप्रास-लिट् (periphrastic perfect)

• आस: did/was (aux.)
• आस: Kriya (Auxiliary/सहायक-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; सहायक्रिया (auxiliary in periphrastic perfect)

• जडोन्मत्ताकृतिम्: a form (as if) dull and mad
• जडोन्मत्ताकृतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जड + उन्मत्त + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद (जड-उन्मत्त) + तत्पुरुष ('आकृति')

• जने: among people/in public
• जने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the sage implemented Hiraṇyagarbha’s instruction by adopting a ‘jada-unmatta’ disguise

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Reflecting on Hiraṇyagarbha’s counsel, the wise one intentionally assumed the appearance of a dull madman to conceal inner realization and safeguard yogic attainment.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Let spiritual life mature privately: reduce self-display, keep practices steady, and use simplicity as protection against distraction.

Vishishtadvaita: The ‘mask’ underscores the distinction between body-mind appearance and the true self as the Lord’s mode (prakāra): inner consciousness remains oriented to Nārāyaṇa despite external guises.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyagarbha (Brahmā)

FAQs

What is the significance of adopting a ‘madman’ disguise in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights a Purāṇic motif: the wise may conceal their inner discipline and purpose to avoid worldly entanglement, protect dharma, or move unnoticed while fulfilling a higher mandate.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the role of Hiraṇyagarbha’s instruction here?

Parāśara presents Hiraṇyagarbha’s words as a guiding authority that shapes the protagonist’s next action—suggesting that cosmic or scriptural counsel directs even outwardly paradoxical behavior.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the narrative assumes a Vishnu-governed cosmic order: higher wisdom aligns conduct with dharma, and apparent disorder can serve the supreme, sustaining purpose.