Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

सनन्दनादयो ब्रह्मभावभावनया युताः कर्मभावनया चान्ये देवाद्याः स्थावराश् चराः

Transliteration

sanandanādayo brahmabhāvabhāvanayā yutāḥ karmabhāvanayā cānye devādyāḥ sthāvarāś carāḥ

Translation

Sanandana and the other mind-born sages are absorbed in the bhāvanā of Brahman; others—beginning with the gods—are shaped by bhāvanā oriented toward action. Thus all beings, immovable and moving, stand differentiated according to the dominant tendency that fashions their nature.

Word by Word

• सनन्दनादयः: Sanandana and others
• सनन्दनादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनन्दन + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सनन्दनः आदिः येषाम् = beginning with Sanandana)

• ब्रह्मभावभावनया: by Brahman-contemplation
• ब्रह्मभावभावनया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + भाव + भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मभावस्य भावना)

• युताः: endowed (with)
• युताः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचन; धातुः—युज् (to join); अर्थः—युक्ताः (endowed/associated)

• कर्मभावनया: by action-contemplation
• कर्मभावनया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् + भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कर्मणः भावना)

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

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचन

• देवाद्याः: gods and the like
• देवाद्याः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (देवाः आदिः येषाम् = beginning with the gods)

• स्थावराः: immobile
• स्थावराः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचन; विशेषणम्—चराः इति

• चराः: moving beings
• चराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचन; अर्थः—चलन्तः प्राणीः (moving beings)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Examples of beings differentiated by brahma-oriented vs karma-oriented bhāvanā (Sanandana sages vs devas and other beings).

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: illustrative, explanatory

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Beings are differentiated by the dominant formative contemplation: the Kumāras like Sanandana abide in brahma-bhāvanā, while devas and other moving/immovable beings are shaped by karma-bhāvanā.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Cultivate brahma-oriented contemplation to refine one’s saṃskāras; recognize that even ‘higher’ statuses (like deva) can remain action-shaped without liberating insight.

Vishishtadvaita: Hierarchy of beings is explained through inner disposition; liberation is tied to Brahman/Vishnu-centered awareness rather than mere cosmic rank.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Characters & Entities

• Sanandana
• Kumaras (Sanandana and others)
• Devas (gods)
• Brahman

FAQs

What is the significance of brahma-bhāvanā in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, brahma-bhāvanā is the contemplative orientation toward Brahman that characterizes higher ascetic beings like Sanandana, marking a mode of existence defined by realization rather than action.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the difference between sages like Sanandana and the devas?

Parāśara distinguishes them by the formative tendency (bhāvanā): the Kumāras are aligned with Brahman-contemplation, while devas and other beings are aligned with karma-oriented contemplation that sustains cosmic functions.

What is Lord Vishnu’s theological importance in this context?

Though not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana frames these gradations within Vishnu’s sovereign cosmic order, where diverse modes of being arise and operate under the Supreme Reality that upholds creation.