Shloka 29

अविद्याबीज-निरूपणं, योगस्वरूप-उपदेशः, मूर्तहरिधारणा-समाधि, जनकवंशीय-राजर्षिसंवादः

Devanagari script

विषयेभ्यः समाहृत्य विज्ञानात्मा मनो मुनिः चिन्तयेन् मुक्तये तेन ब्रह्मभूतं परेश्वरम्

Transliteration

viṣayebhyaḥ samāhṛtya vijñānātmā mano muniḥ cintayen muktaye tena brahmabhūtaṃ pareśvaram

Translation

Having withdrawn the mind from all sense-objects, the sage—whose inner nature is true discernment—should contemplate, for the sake of liberation, that Supreme Lord who is realized as Brahman.

Word by Word

• विषयेभ्यः: from the sense-objects
• विषयेभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (अपादान), बहुवचनम्

• समाहृत्य: having withdrawn
• समाहृत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + हृ (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्तः (gerund), ‘having withdrawn/collected’

• विज्ञानात्मा: whose nature is knowledge/consciousness
• विज्ञानात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विज्ञानात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक: विज्ञान + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (मुनिः इत्यस्य)

• मनः: the mind
• मनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• चिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकारः (optative), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• मुक्तये: for liberation
• मुक्तये: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (सम्प्रदान), एकवचनम्

• तेन: by that/thereby
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• ब्रह्मभूतम्: become Brahman / of Brahman-nature
• ब्रह्मभूतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मभूत (प्रातिपदिक: ब्रह्मन् + भूत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (परेश्वरम् इत्यस्य)

• परेश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक: पर + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: By withdrawing the mind from sense-objects, the discerning sage should contemplate the Supreme Lord—realized as Brahman—for the sake of liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Practice pratyāhāra (reducing sensory inputs), then steady japa/dhyāna on the Lord’s name/form until attention becomes continuous.

Vishishtadvaita: Identifies ‘Brahman’ with ‘Pareśvara’ (the Supreme Lord), aligning Brahman-realization with personal Viṣṇu rather than an impersonal absolute.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parameshvara (Supreme Lord)
• Brahman

FAQs

What is the significance of withdrawing from sense-objects in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents sense-withdrawal as the practical prerequisite for liberation: the mind must be gathered back from external objects so it can rest in contemplation of the Supreme.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the means to moksha here?

Parāśara frames moksha as arising through disciplined inner practice—discerning awareness (vijñāna) plus sustained contemplation—directed toward the Supreme Lord realized as Brahman.

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

The verse identifies the goal of meditation as the Parameśvara who is ‘Brahman’—affirming a Vaishnava reading where the Supreme Reality (Brahman) is not impersonal alone but the Supreme Lord to be contemplated for liberation.