Shloka 66

Devanagari script

आत्मानम् अस्य जगतो निर्लेपम् अगुणामलम् बिभर्ति कौस्तुभमणिस्वरूपं भगवान् हरिः

Transliteration

ātmānam asya jagato nirlepam aguṇāmalam bibharti kaustubhamaṇisvarūpaṃ bhagavān hariḥ

Translation

Bhagavān Hari bears, in the form of the Kaustubha gem, the very Self of this universe—untouched by anything, beyond the guṇas, and stainless in its purity.

Word by Word

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; अस्य इति सह सम्बन्ध

• निर्लेपम्: unstained, unattached
• निर्लेपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-लेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मानम् विशेषयति

• अगुणामलम्: free of qualities and pure
• अगुणामलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (अगुणः च अमलः च = without guṇas and pure)

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

• कौस्तुभमणिस्वरूपम्: in the form of the Kaustubha jewel
• कौस्तुभमणिस्वरूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौस्तुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कौस्तुभ-मणेः स्वरूपम् = in the form of the Kaustubha jewel)

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

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Explanation of cosmic correspondences: the Self of the universe borne by Hari as the Kaustubha gem

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The ātman-principle of the cosmos is stainless, beyond guṇas and non-attached, and is borne by Hari as Kaustubha—signifying the luminous selfhood upheld by the Supreme.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Practice inner detachment (nirlepatā) while remembering the Self is upheld by the Lord; use japa/meditation to shift identity from guṇa-driven moods to witnessing purity.

Vishishtadvaita: Kaustubha symbolism supports the doctrine that selves (cit) are real, pure in essence, and inseparably supported by the Lord (śeṣa–śeṣin relation), not dissolved into an impersonal absolute.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari)
• Kaustubha gem
• Atman (Self of the universe)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Kaustubha gem in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Kaustubha as a symbol of the universe’s very Self (ātman) borne by Vishnu—indicating that all existence rests in Him while He remains unstained and transcendent.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Vishnu’s relation to the guṇas here?

Parāśara describes Vishnu as aguṇāmalam—beyond the guṇas and therefore immaculate—showing that cosmic manifestation does not compromise His absolute purity.

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

Vishnu is affirmed as both the inner Self of the cosmos and the Supreme Lord who remains nirlepa (unattached), a key Vaishnava statement of divine sovereignty and transcendence.