Shloka 41

Cosmic Appointments, Viṣṇu’s Vibhūtis, Fourfold Operation, and the Symbolism of Ornaments and Weapons

Devanagari script

चतुष्प्रकारतां तस्य ब्रह्मभूतस्य वै मुने त्वाम् आचक्ष्व यथान्यायं यद् उक्तं परमं पदम्

Transliteration

catuṣprakāratāṃ tasya brahmabhūtasya vai mune tvām ācakṣva yathānyāyaṃ yad uktaṃ paramaṃ padam

Translation

O sage, explain to me—rightly and in due order—the fourfold nature of that Brahman, and the Supreme Abode spoken of as the highest state.

Word by Word

• चतुष्-प्रकारताम्: the fourfold nature
• चतुष्-प्रकारताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकारता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चतुषां प्रकाराणां ता/अवस्था)

• तस्य: of that (Supreme)
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ब्रह्म-भूतस्य: of the one who has become/exists as Brahman
• ब्रह्म-भूतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/षष्ठी-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भू धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मरूपेण भूतः) विशेषण

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle): निश्चयार्थक/उपपादक

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आचक्ष्व: tell, explain
• आचक्ष्व: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चक्ष् (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यथा-अन्यायम्: according to proper reasoning
• यथा-अन्यायम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध-क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + न्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (क्रियाविशेषण): ‘न्यायानुसारम्’

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• उक्तम्: said, described
• उक्तम्: Karta (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वच् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; विशेषण (पदम्)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karta (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (पदम्)

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Maitreya (questioning Sage Parasara)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: Request for an ordered explanation of Brahman’s fourfold nature and the supreme abode (paramaṃ padam).

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: inquisitive

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right knowledge arises through humble, orderly inquiry into Brahman’s nature and the supreme goal.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Adopt śravaṇa–manana: ask precise questions, seek systematic teaching, and keep the goal (parama-pada) central to practice.

Vishishtadvaita: Frames liberation as reaching the Lord’s parama-pada while understanding His structured manifestations (fourfold), aligning with Pāñcarātra-informed Viśiṣṭādvaita pedagogy.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Vyuha Form: Vasudeva

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Paramam Padam (Supreme Abode)

FAQs

What is the significance of the “fourfold nature” (catuṣprakāratā) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames a doctrinal inquiry: Brahman is to be understood through a structured, multi-aspect explanation, preparing the ground for a systematic teaching on the Supreme Reality and its modes relevant to liberation.

How does Sage Parasara explain the Supreme Abode (paramam padam) in this dialogue?

Maitreya requests an ordered exposition, implying that Parasara’s answer will define the highest goal/state as taught in the Purana—classically aligned with Vishnu as the supreme refuge and culmination of spiritual realization.

What is the theological importance of “Brahman” here for Vishnu-centered philosophy?

By linking Brahman with the “supreme abode,” the verse points toward a Vaishnava reading in which the ultimate metaphysical principle and the final goal of liberation are grounded in the Supreme Lord (Vishnu) as highest reality.