Shloka 49
अविद्याबीज-निरूपणं, योगस्वरूप-उपदेशः, मूर्तहरिधारणा-समाधि, जनकवंशीय-राजर्षिसंवादः
कर्मभावात्मिका ह्य् एका ब्रह्मभावात्मिकापरा उभयात्मिका तथैवान्या त्रिविधा भावभावना
karmabhāvātmikā hy ekā brahmabhāvātmikāparā ubhayātmikā tathaivānyā trividhā bhāvabhāvanā
Indeed, this cultivating bhāvanā is threefold: one oriented to the spirit of action (karma-bhāva), another oriented to the spirit of Brahman (brahma-bhāva), and yet another of dual nature, embracing both together.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Further definition of the threefold bhāvanā as karma-, brahma-, and mixed-oriented.
Teaching: Philosophical
Quality: analytical, enumerative
Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)
Concept: Bhāvanā that shapes embodied existence is threefold: karma-centered, Brahman-centered, and a synthesis that holds both together.
Vedantic Theme: Moksha
Application: Use the ‘both’ approach: perform duties while maintaining steady contemplative recollection (smaraṇa) to prevent action from becoming binding.
Vishishtadvaita: Supports karma-jñāna (and by extension bhakti) samuccaya: embodied life can be spiritually qualified rather than rejected.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
FAQs
This verse defines bhāvanā as a threefold inner orientation—toward action, toward Brahman, or toward both—showing that spiritual realization is shaped by the practitioner’s cultivated disposition.
He presents them as distinct modes of bhāvanā while also allowing a third, integrated mode (ubhaya), implying that disciplined action and Brahman-awareness can be harmonized within one sādhanā.
Even when the verse speaks in terms of Brahman and contemplation, the Vishnu Purana’s frame is that the Supreme Reality to be realized is Vishnu—so these modes of bhāvanā ultimately function as approaches toward Him as Para Brahman.