Shloka 45

ध्रुवस्य तपः — देवमायाविघ्नाः, विष्णोर्दर्शनम्, स्तुतिः, ध्रुवस्थानप्रदानम्

Devanagari script

शङ्खचक्रगदाशार्ङ्गवरासिधरम् अच्युतम् किरीटिनं समालोक्य जगाम शिरसा महीम्

Transliteration

śaṅkhacakragadāśārṅgavarāsidharam acyutam kirīṭinaṃ samālokya jagāma śirasā mahīm

Translation

Beholding the imperishable Lord Acyuta—crowned, and bearing the conch, discus, mace, Śārṅga bow, and the excellent sword—he bowed down, letting his head touch the earth.

Word by Word

• śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-śārṅga-vara-asi-dharam: bearing conch, discus, mace, Śārṅga bow, and excellent sword
• śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-śārṅga-vara-asi-dharam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + śārṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + asi (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-शार्ङ्ग-वरासि धारयति इति), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular (अच्युतम् विशेषयति)

• acyutam: Acyuta (Vishnu)
• acyutam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• kirīṭinam: crowned; wearing a diadem
• kirīṭinam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kirīṭin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular (अच्युतम् विशेषयति)

• samālokya: having beheld
• samālokya: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-ā-√lok (लोक्/लुक् धातु) + ktvā
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) — having looked at

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Perfect, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• śirasā: with (his) head
• śirasā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन — Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• mahīm: the earth; ground
• mahīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Description of the Lord’s form (rūpa) and the devotee’s response of surrender.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contemplation of the Lord’s auspicious form (śaṅkha-cakra-gadā, etc.) naturally culminates in surrender and worship.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Use iconographic meditation (rūpa-dhyāna) or temple darśana to deepen humility and reliance on the divine protector.

Vishishtadvaita: Arcā/Divya-rūpa accessibility: the transcendent Lord becomes approachable through a definite, auspicious form that invites surrender.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Śaraṇāgati (humble surrender)

Key Kings: Dhruva

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Acyuta)
• Śārṅga bow
• Shankha (conch)
• Chakra (discus)
• Gadā (mace)
• Asi (sword)

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu’s weapons (Shankha, Chakra, Gada, Śārṅga, sword) in the Vishnu Purana?

They signify the Lord’s sovereign power to sustain cosmic order—protection, righteous rule, and the removal of ignorance and adharma—so that the devotee responds with reverence and surrender.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the proper response to a vision (darśana) of the Supreme Lord?

Through the narrative gesture of bowing with one’s head to the earth, Parāśara presents humility and complete submission as the natural, dharmic response when encountering Vishnu’s supreme majesty.

What is the theological importance of calling Vishnu “Acyuta” here?

“Acyuta” emphasizes Vishnu’s unfailing, unchanging supremacy—He does not fall from His nature or sovereignty—supporting the Purana’s Vaishnava view of Vishnu as the highest reality worthy of surrender.