Shloka 87

Devanagari script

ततः शङ्खगदाचक्रशार्ङ्गादिरहितं बुधः चिन्तयेद् भगवद्रूपं प्रशान्तं साक्षसूत्रकम्

Transliteration

tataḥ śaṅkhagadācakraśārṅgādirahitaṃ budhaḥ cintayed bhagavadrūpaṃ praśāntaṃ sākṣasūtrakam

Translation

Thereafter, the wise one should contemplate the form of Bhagavān—utterly tranquil—free from conch, mace, discus, and the Śārṅga bow and the like, bearing only the sacred thread as the immediate sign of His serene supremacy.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = indeclinable adverb; अर्थे: तस्मात्/अनन्तरम् (thereafter/from that)

• शङ्ख-गदा-चक्र-शार्ङ्ग-आदि-रहितम्: devoid of conch, mace, discus, Śārṅga etc.
• शङ्ख-गदा-चक्र-शार्ङ्ग-आदि-रहितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्ङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + रहित (कृदन्त; √रह्/रह्? ‘to be without’ adjectival usage)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) — ‘शङ्खगदाचक्रशार्ङ्गादिभिः रहितम्’ (devoid of conch, mace, discus, Śārṅga etc.)

• बुधः: the wise person
• बुधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• चिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; विधिः/आज्ञा (should contemplate)

• भगवत्-रूपम्: the Lord’s form
• भगवत्-रूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘भगवतः रूपम्’ (the form of the Lord)

• प्रशान्तम्: peaceful
• प्रशान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशान्त (कृदन्त; √शम् (धातु) + प्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (calm/peaceful)

• साक्ष-सूत्रकम्: with the sacred thread (visible)
• साक्ष-सूत्रकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् — ‘साक्षसूत्रकं’ (having the sacred thread visible/on the body)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meditate on Bhagavān in a pacified, attributelessly simplified icon—stripped of weapons—so the mind rests on His serene presence rather than external emblems.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: In japa/dhyāna, reduce sensory complexity (no imagery of weapons/attributes) and stabilize attention on calm presence and breath-like continuity.

Vishishtadvaita: The Supreme is approached via a concrete, worshipful form, yet the practice progressively refines perception toward His svarūpa beyond accessory attributes.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Bhagavan)

FAQs

What is the significance of meditating on Vishnu without conch, discus, mace, and bow in the Vishnu Purana?

It signals a contemplative shift from iconic, world-governing attributes to Vishnu’s inwardly tranquil, transcendent presence—supporting a meditative focus on supreme peace rather than cosmic action.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the practice of dhyāna in this context?

Parāśara guides the aspirant step-by-step toward subtler contemplation: after earlier supports, one is instructed to hold in mind Bhagavān’s praśānta (fully calmed) form, reducing external emblems to refine concentration.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is presented as Bhagavān whose ultimate nature is serene and supreme; meditation culminates in recognizing Him as the highest reality approachable through inner stillness, aligning with Vaiṣṇava mokṣa-oriented yoga.