Shloka 20

वैष्णवीमायावितानम्, उग्रसेनाभिषेकः, सुधर्मासभा, सांदीपनिगमनम्, पाञ्चजन्य-प्राप्तिः, गुरुदक्षिणा

Devanagari script

तस्य शिष्यत्वम् अभ्येत्य गुरुवृत्तिपरौ हि तौ दर्शयां चक्रतुर् वीराव् आचारम् अखिले जने

Transliteration

tasya śiṣyatvam abhyetya guruvṛttiparau hi tau darśayāṃ cakratur vīrāv ācāram akhile jane

Translation

既已归依为其弟子，那两位英雄便恒常专注于事师之责；他们以自身的行持，使一切众人亲见正当的行为规范。

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him (of that teacher)
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• शिष्यत्वम्: discipleship
• शिष्यत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; भाववाचक

• अभ्येत्य: having approached / having accepted
• अभ्येत्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial to main verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि-इ (धातु) + त्य (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• गुरुवृत्तिपरौ: devoted to the teacher’s service
• गुरुवृत्तिपरौ: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु + वृत्ति + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गुरोः वृत्तौ परौ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषणम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/indeed)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• दर्शयाम्: showed / demonstrated
• दर्शयाम्: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) causative दर्शय् + आम् (लिट्-रूप)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)

• चक्रतुः: did / performed
• चक्रतुः: Kriya (Co-verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद

• वीरौ: the two heroes
• वीरौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• आचारम्: proper conduct
• आचारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अखिले: in the whole / entire
• अखिले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

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

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How Krishna and Balarāma conducted themselves as disciples and what that taught society.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: compassionate

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna descends to teach dharma by embodying ideal conduct, including perfect guru-sevā and disciplined studentship.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Ācāra (right conduct) and guru-dharma as the backbone of śāstric civilization.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True learning is completed by guru-sevā and right conduct, not merely by acquiring information or power.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice gratitude, service, and integrity toward teachers/mentors; let learning transform behavior visible to society.

Vishishtadvaita: Devotion expresses itself as service (kainkarya) within ordained relationships; the Lord’s līlā sanctifies such relational dharma as spiritually meaningful.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Guru (Teacher)
• People (janas)

FAQs

What is the significance of guru–śiṣya discipline in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents discipleship as a lived ethic: true learning is shown by serving the guru’s way of life and making dharma visible to society through one’s conduct.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of ācāra (right conduct) in preserving order?

Parāśara emphasizes that dharma is not merely taught but demonstrated; when exemplary figures embody proper behavior, it becomes a standard for the wider community.

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

Though Vishnu is not named here, the Purana’s underlying view is that dharma and rightful conduct ultimately reflect and uphold Vishnu’s cosmic sovereignty (ṛta/dharma) within the world.