Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

साधनालम्बनं ज्ञानं मुक्तये योगिनां हि यत् स भेदः प्रथमस् तस्य ज्ञानभूतस्य वै मुने

Transliteration

sādhanālambanaṃ jñānaṃ muktaye yogināṃ hi yat sa bhedaḥ prathamas tasya jñānabhūtasya vai mune

Translation

O sage, that knowledge which serves as the supporting instrument for yogins on the way to liberation—of that knowledge itself, the first division is now declared.

Word by Word

• साधन-आलम्बनम्: having means as its support
• साधन-आलम्बनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक) + आलम्बन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (साधनस्य आलम्बनम्) विशेषणम्

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मुक्तये: for liberation
• मुक्तये: Sampradana (Purpose/Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (for the sake of liberation)

• योगिनाम्: of yogins
• योगिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (emphatic/indeed)

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karta (Relative subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun: ‘that which’)

• सः: that
• सः: Karta (Correlative subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; निर्देश (correlative: ‘that’)

• भेदः: division, distinction
• भेदः: Karta (Predicate noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रथमः: first
• प्रथमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भेदस्य)

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

• ज्ञान-भूतस्य: of that which is of the nature of knowledge
• ज्ञान-भूतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (ज्ञानरूपः/ज्ञानस्वभावः)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (emphasis/assurance)

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

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Classification of liberating knowledge (jñāna) as the support for yogic pursuit of moksha

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: systematic

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Liberating knowledge functions as the principal supporting instrument (ālambana) for yogins, and it is now to be divided and defined.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Study and contemplate a structured teaching (śravaṇa–manana) so meditation rests on clear doctrinal supports rather than vague experience-seeking.

Vishishtadvaita: Jñāna is treated as a purposeful upāya (means) oriented to the Supreme Person, aligning knowledge with disciplined practice rather than abstract monism alone.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Sage Parāśara

FAQs

What is the significance of knowledge (jñāna) as a support for liberation in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames jñāna as the essential “ālambana” (support) that undergirds yogic practice aimed at moksha, establishing knowledge as a structured, teachable means rather than a vague ideal.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the concept of jñāna here?

Parāśara introduces jñāna as something that can be divided into categories (“bheda”), indicating a systematic exposition to follow within the Parāśara–Maitreya teaching sequence.

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

Although Vishnu is not named in this line, the Moksha section of the Vishnu Purana treats liberation as culminating in realization of the Supreme Reality—understood in Vaishnava terms as Vishnu—toward which disciplined knowledge and yoga are directed.