Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

एकपादं द्विपादं च बहुपादम् अपादकम् मूर्तम् एतद् धरे रूपं भावनात्रितयात्मकम्

Transliteration

ekapādaṃ dvipādaṃ ca bahupādam apādakam mūrtam etad dhare rūpaṃ bhāvanātritayātmakam

Translation

O Dhara, this is the manifest form: contemplated as one-footed, two-footed, many-footed, and even footless—this embodied appearance is understood through the triad of contemplations.

Word by Word

• एकपादम्: one-footed
• एकपादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (एकः पादः यस्य/यत्)

• द्विपादम्: two-footed
• द्विपादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and)

• बहुपादम्: many-footed
• बहुपादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (बहवः पादाः यस्य/यत्)

• अपादकम्: footless
• अपादकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + पादक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः (पादाः न सन्ति यस्य/यत्)

• मूर्तम्: embodied/formed
• मूर्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (to रूपम्/एतत्)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• धरे: O bearer (O Viṣṇu)
• धरे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (हरि/विष्णु-सम्बोधन)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भावना-त्रितय-आत्मकम्: consisting of the triad of bhāvanās
• भावना-त्रितय-आत्मकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भावना (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रितय (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समासः (भावनानां त्रितयस्य आत्मकम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The manifest world is contemplated through a triad of contemplations, encompassing all embodied forms—biped, quadruped, many-footed, and footless—as a single field of appearance.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Use structured contemplation: view every life-form as part of one sacred manifestation, reducing aversion and cultivating steady remembrance.

Vishishtadvaita: Contemplation (bhāvanā) treats plurality as integrated within the Lord’s manifestation, supporting unity-in-diversity rather than world-denial.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari)

FAQs

What is the significance of describing the Lord as one-footed, two-footed, many-footed, and footless in the Vishnu Purana?

It presents Vishnu’s immanence across all categories of embodied existence—every mode of life and form can be taken as a locus for contemplating the Supreme.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of bhāvanā (contemplation) in understanding Vishnu?

He frames Vishnu’s manifest form as accessible through structured contemplation, implying that spiritual insight arises from disciplined ways of seeing the One present in diverse forms.

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

Vishnu is affirmed as the Supreme Reality who pervades and supports all forms; the diversity of beings is not outside Him but a field for realizing His sovereignty and presence.