Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

सालम्बनो महायोगः सबीजो यत्र संस्थितः मनस्य् अव्याहते सम्यग् युञ्जतां जायते मुने

Transliteration

sālambano mahāyogaḥ sabījo yatra saṃsthitaḥ manasy avyāhate samyag yuñjatāṃ jāyate mune

Translation

O sage, when the mind becomes unobstructed and steady, there arises in those who practice rightly that Great Yoga which is ‘with a support’ (ālambana) and ‘with a seed’ (bīja), firmly established in its object of meditation.

Word by Word

• सालम्बनः: with a support (object)
• सालम्बनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + आलम्बन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स-उपाधि/सह = ‘with support’)

• महायोगः: the great yoga
• महायोगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + योग (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् योगः)

• सबीजः: with seed (sa-bīja)
• सबीजः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सह बीजेन = ‘with seed’)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Locus marker/अधिकरण-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक/अधिकरणवाचक (relative adverb: where)

• संस्थितः: situated; established
• संस्थितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) → संस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे (past participle: ‘situated/established’)

• मनसि: in the mind
• मनसि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• अव्याहते: unobstructed; unbroken
• अव्याहते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्याहत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; विशेषण (मनसि इत्यस्य)

• सम्यक्: properly; correctly
• सम्यक्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• युञ्जताम्: of those who practice (yoke/engage)
• युञ्जताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युञ्जत् (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle)

• जायते: arises; comes to be
• जायते: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

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

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How supported (sālambana) and seed-bearing (sabīja) yoga arises when the mind is steady.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When the mind becomes unobstructed and well-yoked, supported and seed-bearing meditation stabilizes on its chosen object.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Train attention through consistent practice (breath, japa, icon/quality contemplation) until distractions lessen and focus becomes continuous.

Vishishtadvaita: Yoga is oriented to a real ālambana (the Lord’s form/attributes), aligning disciplined meditation with devotional theism.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of sālambana and sabīja yoga in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames an initial, structured stage of meditation: the yogin holds a definite support (ālambana)—typically the Lord—and a ‘seed’ (bīja), meaning a formed concept or focus, from which deeper absorption can mature.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of the mind (manas) in yogic success?

He makes the mind’s condition decisive: when it becomes avyāhata—unbroken and free from obstruction—right practice naturally gives rise to stable, established yoga rather than sporadic concentration.

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

In Ansha 6’s liberation teaching, Vishnu is implied as the highest and most fitting ālambana—the supreme reality toward whom supported meditation is directed, aligning yogic discipline with Vaishnava realization.