Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

द्वे रूपे ब्रह्मणस् तस्य मूर्तं चामूर्तम् एव च क्षराक्षरस्वरूपे ते सर्वभूतेषु च स्थिते

Transliteration

dve rūpe brahmaṇas tasya mūrtaṃ cāmūrtam eva ca kṣarākṣarasvarūpe te sarvabhūteṣu ca sthite

Translation

Of that Supreme Brahman there are two modes: the manifest (formed) and the unmanifest (formless). These are known as the perishable and the imperishable; and both, in their own manner, abide within all beings.

Word by Word

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• रूपे: forms
• रूपे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahman
• ब्रह्मणः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• तस्य: of that (of him/it)
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• मूर्तम्: manifest, embodied
• मूर्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अमूर्तम्: unmanifest, unembodied
• अमूर्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• क्षराक्षरस्वरूपे: (two) forms as perishable and imperishable in nature
• क्षराक्षरस्वरूपे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षर (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षर-अक्षरयोः स्वरूपे = forms of the perishable and imperishable)

• ते: those (two)
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वभूतेषु: in all beings
• सर्वभूतेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि भूतानि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्थिते: are situated, abide
• स्थिते: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; विशेषण (रूपे/ते इत्यस्य)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Nature of the Supreme Brahman and its modes (manifest/unmanifest; perishable/imperishable) and how it abides in beings

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme Brahman is spoken of in two aspects—manifest and unmanifest—corresponding to perishable and imperishable, while remaining present within all beings.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate the same Divine presence in changing experiences (kṣara) and the unchanging witness (akṣara) to cultivate steadiness and reverence toward all life.

Vishishtadvaita: Brahman (Viṣṇu) is both transcendent (akṣara) and immanent as the indwelling ruler (antaryāmin) of all beings without losing unity.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of the two forms of Brahman (mūrta and amūrta) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Brahman as both manifest in the cosmos and unmanifest beyond it, allowing the Purana to describe God as simultaneously transcendent and present within all beings.

How does Sage Parāśara explain kṣara and akṣara here?

Parāśara presents the perishable (kṣara) as the changing, embodied aspect of reality and the imperishable (akṣara) as the unchanging, formless principle—both understood as modes of the same Supreme.

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

In Vaishnava reading, Vishnu is the Supreme Brahman whose unmanifest nature remains imperishable while his manifest power sustains and pervades all beings, grounding cosmic sovereignty in the divine.