Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

भूषणास्त्रस्वरूपस्थं यद् एतद् अखिलं जगत् बिभर्ति भगवान् विष्णुस् तन् ममाख्यातुम् अर्हसि

Transliteration

bhūṣaṇāstrasvarūpasthaṃ yad etad akhilaṃ jagat bibharti bhagavān viṣṇus tan mamākhyātum arhasi

Translation

Please explain to me how this entire universe—abiding in the very forms of His ornaments and weapons—is borne and sustained by Bhagavān Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• भूषणास्त्रस्वरूपस्थम्: abiding in the form of ornaments and weapons
• भूषणास्त्रस्वरूपस्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भूषणास्त्रयोः स्वरूपे स्थम् = abiding in the form of ornaments and weapons)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम

• अखिलम्: entire
• अखिलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; जगतः विशेषणम्

• जगत्: world, universe
• जगत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• बिभर्ति: supports
• बिभर्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विष्णोः विशेषणम्

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (वक्तव्य-विषय)

• मम: of me, to me
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• आख्यातुम्: to explain, to tell
• आख्यातुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√ख्या (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive/तुमन्त), प्रयोजन (purpose)

• अर्हसि: you ought, you are fit
• अर्हसि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Maitreya (addressing Sage Parāśara)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: Request for explanation of how the universe abides as Viṣṇu’s ornaments and weapons and is sustained by Him

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: inquiring

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu’s weapons and ornaments in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats them as more than symbols: the universe is said to abide in those divine forms, indicating that all cosmic functions and protections are grounded in Vishnu’s own being.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the idea of the universe being ‘borne’ by Vishnu?

In this dialogue, Maitreya asks Parāśara to clarify the metaphysical basis of cosmic support—how the Lord, as Bhagavān, sustains the whole jagat not externally but through His intrinsic divine forms.

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

Vishnu is presented as the supreme sustainer and underlying reality of the cosmos—supporting all existence as an expression of His sovereignty, not as a separate or independent material principle.