Shloka 83

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

Devanagari script

काव्यालापाश् च ये केचिद् गीतकान्य् अखिलानि च शब्दमूर्तिधरस्यैतद् वपुर् विष्णोर् महात्मनः

Transliteration

kāvyālāpāś ca ye kecid gītakāny akhilāni ca śabdamūrtidharasyaitad vapur viṣṇor mahātmanaḥ

Translation

Whatever poetic utterances there are, and all songs of every kind—these too are the very body of great-souled Viṣṇu, who bears the form of Śabda, the living Word.

Word by Word

• काव्यालापाः: poetic utterances/recitations
• काव्यालापाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आलाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• ये: which/that (plural)
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (relative pronoun: those who/which)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun: some)

• गीतकानि: songs
• गीतकानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अखिलानि: all/entire
• अखिलानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with गीतकानि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• शब्दमूर्तिधरस्य: of the bearer of the word-form
• शब्दमूर्तिधरस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त; √धृ धारणे)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; समासः—(शब्द-मूर्ति) कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष + धर (धारक)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with वपुः)

• वपुः: body/form
• वपुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled
• महात्मनः: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of विष्णोः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Nature of Viṣṇu as the all-pervading Absolute, including His identity with Veda/Śabda and the manifest world

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All articulated sacred expression—poetry and song—is to be contemplated as the embodied presence (vapuḥ) of Viṣṇu as Śabda.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Treat mantra, stotra, and dharmic speech as worship: recite with purity of intention and restraint in words.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord is transcendent yet becomes accessible as Śabda (scripture/utterance), allowing real relation (bhakti) without denying His supremacy.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of Śabda (sound/word) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Śabda as a divine mode of manifestation: all articulated beauty—poetry and song—is treated as the embodied presence of Vishnu, not merely human craft.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the relationship between art and the Supreme?

By identifying poetry and music as Vishnu’s ‘body,’ Parāśara frames aesthetic expression as participation in the Lord’s all-pervading reality, integrating culture into theology.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is affirmed as the Supreme Reality whose being extends into language and sound; devotion can thus approach Him through sacred recitation, hymn, and praise.