Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

प्रशान्तम् अभयं शुद्धं दुर्विभाव्यम् असंश्रयम् विष्णोर् ज्ञानमयस्योक्तं तज् ज्ञानं परमं पदम्

Transliteration

praśāntam abhayaṃ śuddhaṃ durvibhāvyam asaṃśrayam viṣṇor jñānamayasyoktaṃ taj jñānaṃ paramaṃ padam

Translation

That supreme state is declared to be the knowledge of Vishnu, whose very essence is consciousness: utterly tranquil, fearless, pure, beyond ordinary conception, and dependent on nothing. That knowledge itself is the highest abode.

Word by Word

• प्रशान्तम्: perfectly tranquil
• प्रशान्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-śānta (प्रातिपदिक; √śam (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (शान्त = pacified)

• अभयम्: fearless; free from fear
• अभयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष

• शुद्धम्: pure
• शुद्धम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक; √śudh (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त

• दुर्विभाव्यम्: hard to conceive
• दुर्विभाव्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur- + vibhāvya (प्रातिपदिक; √bhū/√bhāv (धातु) + ण्यत्/यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कृदन्त (विभाव्य = conceivable), दुर्गति-उपपद-तत्पुरुष (दुर्-)

• असंश्रयम्: without support; independent
• असंश्रयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + saṃśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (आश्रय-रहित)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• ज्ञानमयस्य: of the knowledge-formed (one)
• ज्ञानमयस्य: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ज्ञानमय = consisting of knowledge)

• उक्तम्: is said/declared
• उक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु) + क्त (उक्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘said/declared’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshya (Head term/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Visheshya (Head term/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पदम्: state; abode; goal
• पदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Definition of the supreme state as Vishnu’s consciousness-nature and the highest abode

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The highest abode is the very knowledge (jñāna) of Vishnu—pure consciousness—tranquil, fearless, stainless, inconceivable, and independent.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Cultivate inner stillness and purity (praśānti, śauca) so that knowledge becomes direct realization rather than concept.

Vishishtadvaita: Identifies the ‘parama pada’ with Vishnu’s jñāna-svarūpa—liberation as communion with the conscious Lord, not mere voidness; supports a theistic, luminous Absolute.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of 'parama pada' in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, parama-pada is the highest state/abode identified with the realization of Vishnu as pure consciousness—peaceful, fearless, and independent—indicating moksha as direct knowledge of the Supreme.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the nature of supreme knowledge (jñāna)?

Parāśara defines it by attributes rather than objects: it is tranquil, fearless, pure, beyond ordinary conception, and unsupported—because it is the knowledge of Vishnu, whose essence is consciousness itself.

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

Vishnu is presented as the supreme reality (Para Brahman) and the final goal: liberation is not merely a place but the highest state realized through knowledge of Vishnu’s transcendent, self-subsistent nature.