Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

बिभर्ति यच् चासिरत्नम् अच्युतो ऽत्यन्तनिर्मलम् विद्यामयं तु तज् ज्ञानम् अविद्याचर्मसंस्थितम्

Transliteration

bibharti yac cāsiratnam acyuto 'tyantanirmalam vidyāmayaṃ tu taj jñānam avidyācarmasaṃsthitam

Translation

That flawless, utterly stainless sword-jewel which Acyuta bears is, in truth, knowledge itself—formed of sacred wisdom—set within the sheath of ignorance.

Word by Word

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

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative)

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

• असिरत्नम्: the sword-jewel (excellent sword)
• असिरत्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—असिः एव रत्नम् इति (कर्मधारय)

• अच्युतः: Acyuta (Vishnu)
• अच्युतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अत्यन्तनिर्मलम्: utterly pure
• अत्यन्तनिर्मलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत्यन्त + निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—अत्यन्तं निर्मलम् इति (कर्मधारय); विशेषणम् (असिरत्नम्)

• विद्यामयम्: consisting of knowledge/learning
• विद्यामयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्या + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—विद्यया मयम् इति (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष); विशेषणम् (ज्ञानम्)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देशक-सर्वनाम

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अविद्याचर्मसंस्थितम्: situated in the skin of ignorance
• अविद्याचर्मसंस्थितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविद्या + चर्म + संस्थित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधार)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘संस्थित’ (स्था + सम्-उपसर्ग + क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—अविद्यायाः चर्मणि संस्थितम् इति (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/अधिकरण-तत्पुरुष); विशेषणम् (ज्ञानम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Allegory of the sword (jñāna) and sheath (avidyā) as a soteriological teaching

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Acyuta’s stainless sword signifies liberating knowledge (vidyā-maya jñāna) that cuts bondage, while the sheath represents ignorance (avidyā) that conceals this knowledge until removed.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Cultivate viveka: study śāstra with a teacher, practice disciplined attention, and ‘draw the sword’ by questioning ignorance-driven habits and identities.

Vishishtadvaita: Knowledge is a divine gift oriented toward Bhagavān; removing avidyā reveals the jīva’s dependent, service-nature (śeṣatva) rather than an isolated absolute.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of the sword (asi-ratna) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse explains the sword as a symbol of pure, liberating knowledge (jñāna/vidyā) that cuts through delusion, while acknowledging that ignorance can still function as a covering (sheath) until dispelled.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the relationship between vidyā and avidyā here?

Parāśara frames knowledge as intrinsically pure and divine, yet ‘placed within’ an ignorance-covering—implying that realization requires removing the sheath of avidyā so the ever-present jñāna can shine.

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

Vishnu is presented as the infallible Supreme who bears not merely weapons but spiritual principles—indicating that ultimate sovereignty includes granting discernment and the means to overcome ignorance.