Shloka 23

Devanagari script

द्विजशुश्रूषयैवैष पाकयज्ञाधिकारवान् निजाञ् जयति वै लोकाञ् शूद्रो धन्यतरस् ततः

Transliteration

dvijaśuśrūṣayaivaiṣa pākayajñādhikāravān nijāñ jayati vai lokāñ śūdro dhanyataras tataḥ

Translation

以虔敬侍奉二次生者，此首陀罗得具行家祭（pākayajña）之资格，并得其所当得之世界。故就此而言，首陀罗更为有福：以谦恭之服事与正行，其功德之路得以稳固。

Word by Word

• द्विज-शुश्रूषया: by service to the twice-born
• द्विज-शुश्रूषया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (द्विजानां शुश्रूषा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (only/indeed)

• एषः: this (person)
• एषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पाकयज्ञ-अधिकारवान्: having the right to domestic rites (pākayajñas)
• पाकयज्ञ-अधिकारवान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाकयज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिकारवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (पाकयज्ञे अधिकारः यस्य); अधिकारवान् = अधिकारवत्-प्रातिपदिक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (एषः)

• निजान्: his own
• निजान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (लोकान्)

• जयति: wins/conquers
• जयति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed)

• लोकान्: worlds
• लोकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• शूद्रः: the Śūdra
• शूद्रः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• धन्यतरः: more fortunate
• धन्यतरः: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• ततः: therefore/thereupon
• ततः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: तुलनार्थ/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (therefore/than that)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How a Śūdra attains merit and rightful worlds through service to the twice-born and eligibility for pākayajñas

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: pragmatic, socially instructive

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Humble service (śuśrūṣā) to the twice-born grants the Śūdra a secure path of merit through sanctioned domestic rites, leading to his rightful destinations.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Adopt seva as a disciplined spiritual practice—serve the wise, support sacred learning, and perform one’s rightful duties with integrity.

Vishishtadvaita: Seva is affirmed as a genuine salvific discipline accessible through one’s station, resonating with Viśiṣṭādvaita’s emphasis on prapatti/seva and the Lord’s grace working through right order.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (twice-born)
• Pākayajña (domestic rites)

FAQs

What is the significance of service (śuśrūṣā) in this Vishnu Purana verse?

The verse presents devoted service to the twice-born as a direct means to acquire religious eligibility and to attain one’s destined spiritual realms, emphasizing conduct over mere status.

How does Sage Parāśara explain spiritual eligibility in Kali-yuga here?

Parāśara indicates that in Kali-yuga, sincere service and disciplined behavior can grant access to meritorious rites (pākayajñas) and their results, even for those traditionally limited in Vedic ritual entitlement.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the teaching aligns with Vaishnava dharma: rightful action and humility uphold the cosmic order sustained by Vishnu, and merit accrues through dharma-centered living.