Shloka 52

ध्रुवस्य निर्वेदः — मन्त्रोपदेशः (ॐ नमो वासुदेवाय) तथा विष्ण्वाराधनविधिः

Devanagari script

बाह्यार्थाद् अखिलाच् चित्तं त्याजयेत् प्रथमं नरः तस्मिन्न् एव जगद्धाम्नि ततः कुर्वीत निश्चलम्

Transliteration

bāhyārthād akhilāc cittaṃ tyājayet prathamaṃ naraḥ tasminn eva jagaddhāmni tataḥ kurvīta niścalam

Translation

First, one should withdraw the mind entirely from all outward objects; then, in that very Abode which is the resting-place of the universe, one should make it steady and unmoving.

Word by Word

• बाह्यार्थात्: from external objects
• बाह्यार्थात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषः (bāhyaḥ arthaḥ), पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचनम्; अपादानम् (source)

• अखिलात्: from all (of it)
• अखिलात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (बाह्यार्थात्—‘from all’)

• चित्तम्: the mind
• चित्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचनम्

• त्याजयेत्: should abandon
• त्याजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु √त्यज्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्; विधिः (should)

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Sambandha/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial accusative: ‘first’)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचनम्

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• जगद्धाम्नि: in the abode of the world
• जगद्धाम्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (jagataḥ dhāma), नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha/Adverbial (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—क्रम/अनन्तर (then, thereafter)

• कुर्वीत: should make
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु √कृ)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्

• निश्चलम्: steady, unmoving
• निश्चलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (चित्तम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Begin worship by withdrawing the mind from external objects and fixing it steadily upon Viṣṇu, the support and abode of the universe.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Before prayer/puja, spend a few minutes in sensory withdrawal (phone off, breath steady) and hold a single Viṣṇu-focused contemplation.

Vishishtadvaita: Vishnu as jagad-ādhāra (support of the world) and the proper object of upāsanā: transcendence with sustaining immanence.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman (philosophical)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of withdrawing the mind from external objects in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames liberation-practice as beginning with pratyāhāra—turning consciousness away from sense-driven distractions so it can become fit for steady contemplation of the Supreme.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the method of making the mind steady?

He presents a sequence: first renounce outward objects mentally, then place the mind in the Supreme ‘jagaddhāma’ and hold it there without movement—an instruction aligned with yogic concentration directed to Vishnu.

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

Vishnu is implied as the ultimate refuge and cosmic ground (‘the abode of the universe’), making meditation not merely psychological stillness but God-centered fixation on the Supreme Reality.