Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

त्रिविधा भावना भूप विश्वम् एतन् निबोधताम् ब्रह्माख्या कर्मसंज्ञा च तथा चैवोभयात्मिका

Transliteration

trividhā bhāvanā bhūpa viśvam etan nibodhatām brahmākhyā karmasaṃjñā ca tathā caivobhayātmikā

Translation

O King, know that this entire universe is upheld through a threefold bhāvanā: one called Brahman, one designated as karma, and a third that partakes of both natures together.

Word by Word

• त्रिविधा: threefold
• त्रिविधा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (त्रयः विधाः यस्याः)

• भावना: contemplation, mental cultivation
• भावना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचन

• भूप: O king
• भूप: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative) एकवचन

• विश्वम्: the universe
• विश्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचन; विश्वम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• निबोधताम्: understand (you all)
• निबोधताम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लकारः—लोट् (Imperative), पुरुषः—मध्यम (2nd), वचनम्—बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपदम्; धातुः—बुध् (to know), उपसर्गः—नि

• ब्रह्माख्या: called ‘Brahman’
• ब्रह्माख्या: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः आख्या/नाम यस्याः)

• कर्मसंज्ञा: called ‘action’
• कर्मसंज्ञा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्मन् + संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कर्मणः संज्ञा/नाम यस्याः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—क्रियाविशेषण (adverb); अर्थः—एवम् (thus)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nishchaya (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—अवधारण (emphasis)

• उभयात्मिका: having both natures
• उभयात्मिका: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभय + आत्मन् + इक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (उभयस्य आत्मा/स्वभावः यस्याः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya; addressing him in the register of ‘O King’ as a formal vocative in this passage)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the universe is upheld/conditioned through modes of bhāvanā (formative contemplation).

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: revealing, systematizing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The universe is sustained and differentiated through three modes of bhāvanā: Brahman-oriented, karma-oriented, and a mixed mode combining both.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Observe your dominant tendency—action-driven, contemplative, or integrated—and intentionally cultivate the integrated mode that purifies action by spiritual insight.

Vishishtadvaita: Integration (ubhayātmikā) supports a Vishishtadvaita-friendly path where worldly duties are retained but suffused with Brahman/Vishnu-centered awareness.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Karma

FAQs

What is the significance of the threefold bhāvanā in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames the universe as sustained by three modes—Brahman-oriented (pure spiritual apprehension), karma-oriented (action and causality), and a mixed mode—linking cosmology to inner metaphysical principles.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the relationship between Brahman and karma here?

He presents them as distinct yet co-present explanatory lenses: one emphasizes ultimate reality (Brahman), another emphasizes operative causation (karma), and the third integrates both, showing how worldly process and supreme principle interrelate.

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

Even when not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana’s framework typically treats Brahman as the supreme reality identified with Vishnu; thus, the ‘Brahman’ mode implicitly points to Vishnu as the ultimate ground behind cosmic order and action.