Shloka 78

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

Devanagari script

मूर्तं भगवतो रूपं सर्वापाश्रयनिःस्पृहम् एषा वै धारणा प्रोक्ता यच् चित्तं तत्र धार्यते

Transliteration

mūrtaṃ bhagavato rūpaṃ sarvāpāśrayaniḥspṛham eṣā vai dhāraṇā proktā yac cittaṃ tatra dhāryate

Translation

The manifest form of Bhagavān—though the support of all—remains untouched by any dependence. This is declared to be dhāraṇā: that in which the mind is steadily held and fixed.

Word by Word

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

• भगवतः: of the Lord
• भगवतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

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

• सर्वापाश्रयनिःस्पृहम्: free from dependence on any support
• सर्वापाश्रयनिःस्पृहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-अप-आश्रय-नि:स्पृह (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + अप + आश्रय + निःस्पृह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषण (रूपम्)

• एषा: this
• एषा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात—निश्चयार्थक (indeed)

• धारणा: concentration; fixation
• धारणा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रोक्ता: is declared; is said
• प्रोक्ता: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (वचने) (कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोगः; (धारणा) इति कर्तृवाच्ये विशेषणम्

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• चित्तम्: the mind
• चित्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्र: there; in that (form)
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• धार्यते: is held; is fixed
• धार्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धृ (धारणे)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (Passive)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Definition of dhāraṇā and the proper support (ālambana) for concentration.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dhāraṇā is the steady holding of the mind upon Bhagavān’s manifest form, who supports all yet depends on none.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Choose a sacred form (arcā/mental image), return the mind to it repeatedly, and cultivate reliance on the Lord rather than on mental constructs.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s mūrti is not a mere symbol: as jagat-āśraya He is real, independent, and a valid ālambana for saving contemplation.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Bhagavān)

FAQs

What is the significance of dhāraṇā in the Vishnu Purana?

Here dhāraṇā is defined as holding the mind steadily in one chosen support—specifically, the manifest form of Bhagavān—so concentration becomes stable and undistracted.

How does Sage Parāśara explain concentration on Vishnu’s form?

Parāśara teaches that the Lord’s formed presence is a valid and exalted support for yoga: the practitioner fixes citta upon that form, which is the basis of all yet remains unattached.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu being “the support of all” yet “unattached”?

It emphasizes Vishnu’s supreme reality and sovereignty: He sustains the cosmos (sarvāśraya) without being conditioned by it (niḥspṛha), aligning devotion and meditation with a transcendent, independent Lord.