Shloka 81

Cosmic Appointments, Viṣṇu’s Vibhūtis, Fourfold Operation, and the Symbolism of Ornaments and Weapons

Devanagari script

ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि तथैवाथर्वणानि च इतिहासोपवेदाश् च वेदान्तेषु तथोक्तयः

Transliteration

ṛco yajūṃṣi sāmāni tathaivātharvaṇāni ca itihāsopavedāś ca vedānteṣu tathoktayaḥ

Translation

《梨俱》之颂、《夜柔》之仪文、《娑摩》之歌，以及《阿闼婆》之赞；并诸《伊提哈萨》与《优婆吠陀》——在《吠檀多》中亦被称为同一吠陀启示之所属。

Word by Word

• ऋचः: Ṛk verses (Rig)
• ऋचः: Karta (Listed items/कर्ता-समुच्चय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच्/ऋचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यजूंषि: Yajus formulas (Yajur)
• यजूंषि: Karta (Listed items/कर्ता-समुच्चय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सामानि: Sāman chants (Sāma)
• सामानि: Karta (Listed items/कर्ता-समुच्चय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—रीतिवाचक (thus/likewise)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (indeed)

• अथर्वणानि: Atharvan hymns (Atharva)
• अथर्वणानि: Karta (Listed items/कर्ता-समुच्चय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अथर्वण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samucchaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चय (and)

• इतिहासोपवेदाः: Itihāsas and Upavedas
• इतिहासोपवेदाः: Karta (Listed items/कर्ता-समुच्चय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (इतिहासाश्च उपवेदाश्च)

• च: and
• च: Samucchaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• वेदान्तेषु: in the Vedāntas (Upaniṣads)
• वेदान्तेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• तथोक्तयः: sayings stated likewise
• तथोक्तयः: Karta (Listed items/कर्ता-समुच्चय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तथा (अव्यय) + उक्ति (प्रातिपदिक; √वच् (धातु) से)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—अव्ययीभाव (तथा-उक्तयः = thus-stated sayings)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Classification of Vedic revelation: four Vedas with Itihāsa, Upaveda, and Vedānta statements

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The four Vedas, together with Itihāsa and Upavedas, are affirmed within Vedānta discourse as belonging to the single continuum of Vedic revelation.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Anchor study and practice in a coherent śāstra-framework: read Purāṇa with śruti-respect and interpret devotion in harmony with Vedāntic intent.

Vishishtadvaita: Supports the Viśiṣṭādvaita method of harmonizing smṛti/purāṇa with śruti under Vedānta’s purport (tātparya) centered on the Supreme.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Atharvaveda
• Itihasa
• Upavedas
• Vedanta

FAQs

What is the significance of Itihāsa and Upaveda in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Itihāsa and the Upavedas as Veda-connected knowledge, affirmed within Vedānta, reinforcing their authority for conveying dharma and applied sacred sciences.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the structure of Vedic revelation here?

He enumerates the four Vedas and then adds that Vedānta also acknowledges allied bodies—Itihāsa and Upavedas—showing a comprehensive scriptural ecosystem rather than isolated texts.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

By grounding dharma and true knowledge in Vedānta-recognized revelation, the Purāṇa supports a worldview where ultimate reality and order culminate in the Supreme (Vishnu) known through Vedic wisdom.