Shloka 74

Devanagari script

अस्त्रभूषणसंस्थानस्वरूपं रूपवर्जितः बिभर्ति मायारूपो ऽसौ श्रेयसे प्राणिनां हरिः

Transliteration

astrabhūṣaṇasaṃsthānasvarūpaṃ rūpavarjitaḥ bibharti māyārūpo 'sau śreyase prāṇināṃ hariḥ

Translation

Though truly beyond all form, Hari, by His own māyā-power, bears the very configurations known as weapons, ornaments, and divine attributes—solely for the highest good of living beings.

Word by Word

• अस्त्र-भूषण-संस्थान-स्वरूपम्: the form consisting of weapons, ornaments, and configuration
• अस्त्र-भूषण-संस्थान-स्वरूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थान (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• रूप-वर्जितः: devoid of (true) form
• रूप-वर्जितः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• बिभर्ति: bears, assumes
• बिभर्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन

• माया-रूपः: having an illusory form
• माया-रूपः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• असौ: that (he)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• श्रेयसे: for the good, for welfare
• श्रेयसे: Sampradana (Beneficiary/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative); एकवचन

• प्राणिनाम्: of living beings
• प्राणिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive); बहुवचन

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the formless Lord assumes divine forms and attributes for the welfare of beings

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Though beyond form, Hari freely assumes perceptible divine configurations (weapons, ornaments, attributes) by His own māyā-śakti for the uplift of living beings.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Approach mūrti and iconography as compassionate self-disclosure of the formless Lord, using them for focused remembrance and ethical uplift.

Vishishtadvaita: Maintains transcendence (rūpa-varjita) while affirming real, gracious self-manifestation for devotees—immanence without loss of supremacy.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu being described as formless yet bearing weapons and ornaments in the Vishnu Purana?

It teaches that Vishnu is transcendent beyond material limitation, yet compassionately manifests recognizable divine forms and attributes to guide and protect beings toward their highest good (śreyas).

How does Sage Parāśara explain māyā in this verse?

Māyā is presented as Vishnu’s own power of manifestation—by which He can appear with form and attributes for the world’s welfare without compromising His essential formless, supreme nature.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is affirmed as the Supreme Reality who remains beyond form while freely revealing Himself through divine, meaningful forms to uplift creation—supporting a devotional theology grounded in divine sovereignty and grace.