Shloka 90

Devanagari script

स्वस्थः प्रशान्तचित्तस् तु कृतासनपरिग्रहः अभीष्टदेवतानां तु कुर्वीत स्मरणं नरः

Transliteration

svasthaḥ praśāntacittas tu kṛtāsanaparigrahaḥ abhīṣṭadevatānāṃ tu kurvīta smaraṇaṃ naraḥ

Translation

Steady in body and at ease, with the mind pacified, having properly assumed and settled into his seat, a person should then engage in mindful remembrance of the deity he most seeks—fixing awareness upon that chosen Lord as the supreme refuge.

Word by Word

• svasthaḥ: healthy/at ease
• svasthaḥ: Karta (Agent-qualifier/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण (of naraḥ)

• praśānta-cittaḥ: with a tranquil mind
• praśānta-cittaḥ: Karta (Agent-qualifier/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśānta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; कर्मधारय (calm-minded)

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषण/विरोध (particle)

• kṛta-āsana-parigrahaḥ: having assumed a sitting posture
• kṛta-āsana-parigrahaḥ: Karta (Agent-qualifier/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक) + parigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (having taken/assumed a seat/posture)

• abhīṣṭa-devatānām: of the chosen deities
• abhīṣṭa-devatānām: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhīṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive); बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (of the desired deities)

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषण (particle)

• kurvīta: should do/perform
• kurvīta: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• smaraṇam: remembrance/meditation
• smaraṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya in the Vishnu Purana’s instructional dialogue on yoga and remembrance)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Transition from bodily discipline to devatā-smaraṇa (remembrance of the chosen Lord)

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: With body steady and mind pacified, one should settle into a seat and remember one’s chosen deity as the supreme refuge.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: After daily routines, sit for a brief, consistent remembrance practice (japa/dhyāna) anchored in calm posture and a clear iṣṭa-devatā focus.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms śaraṇāgati-bhāva: the Lord as ‘supreme refuge’ (parāyaṇa) approached through personal, chosen worship consistent with Viśiṣṭādvaita devotion.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of smaraṇa (remembrance) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents smaraṇa as the core meditative act that follows bodily steadiness and mental calm—remembrance of the chosen Lord becomes the direct means of inward absorption leading toward liberation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the preparation for meditation here?

He frames meditation as sequential: first establish ease and stability (svastha), then quiet the mind (praśānta-citta), then settle into a proper seat (āsana-parigraha), and only then begin focused remembrance.

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

Even when phrased as remembrance of the ‘chosen deity,’ the Vishnu Purana’s moksha-teaching ultimately directs devotion and contemplation to Vishnu as the supreme reality and final refuge.