Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

तस्य चालम्बनवतः स्थूलरूपं द्विजोत्तम आलम्बनम् अनन्तस्य योगिनो ऽभ्यसतः स्मृतम्

Transliteration

tasya cālambanavataḥ sthūlarūpaṃ dvijottama ālambanam anantasya yogino 'bhyasataḥ smṛtam

Translation

For the yogin who practices meditation with a support, O best of the twice-born, the Lord Ananta’s tangible, manifest form is remembered as that very support for steady contemplation of the Infinite.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

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

• आलम्बनवतः: of one who has a support
• आलम्बनवतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आलम्बनवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘having a support’

• स्थूलरूपम्: gross form
• स्थूलरूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; here as predicate/object ‘gross form’

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of twice-born
• द्विजोत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्विजानाम् उत्तमः)

• आलम्बनम्: support, object of meditation
• आलम्बनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आलम्बन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनन्तस्य: of Ananta (Vishnu)
• अनन्तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• योगिनः: of the yogin
• योगिनः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अभ्यसतः: of (one) practicing
• अभ्यसतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Kridanta
• Root: अभि + अस् (धातु) → अभ्यास (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) / or अभ्यस् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘of (him) practicing’

• स्मृतम्: is stated/remembered
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Kridanta
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; impersonal predicate ‘is said/remembered’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Means of meditation for the yogin—supported (sālambana) contemplation of the Infinite

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: For one who meditates with an ālambana, the Lord’s manifest, tangible form is prescribed as the support for steady contemplation of Ananta.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Use a consecrated icon (arcā), a mental image, or a sacred form-description to anchor meditation and prevent dispersion.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms saguna-upāsanā: the Infinite is approachable through real, auspicious divine form, aligning with the Vishishtadvaita emphasis on Brahman with attributes.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ananta
• Vishnu
• Dvija (Brahmin)

FAQs

What is the significance of ālambana (a meditative support) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse states that for a practitioner who needs a support, the manifest, tangible form of Vishnu (Ananta) functions as the stabilizing basis for meditation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain meditation practice to Maitreya here?

Parāśara frames a graded discipline: the yogin who practices repeatedly (abhyāsa) may begin with a concrete support—Vishnu’s visible form—so the mind can rest steadily on the Infinite.

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

Vishnu is presented as the Infinite Supreme Reality, yet compassionately approachable through a perceivable form—supporting Vaishnava form-centered contemplation as a valid means toward liberation.