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Shloka 35

Sṛṣṭi-krama, Pratibimba-Upādhi, and Viṣṇu as Primary Brahman

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

Devanagari script

विष्णावेव ब्रह्मशब्दो हि मुख्यो ह्यन्येष्वमुख्यो ब्रह्मरुद्रादिकेषु / अनन्तगुणपूर्णत्वाद्ब्रह्मेति हरिरुच्यते

Transliteration

viṣṇāveva brahmaśabdo hi mukhyo hyanyeṣvamukhyo brahmarudrādikeṣu / anantaguṇapūrṇatvādbrahmeti harirucyate

Translation

إن لفظ «برهمن» إنما يَصدق على وجهه الأوّل والرئيس على فيشنو وحده؛ أمّا في غيره—كبراهما ورودرا وسائرهم—فهو على معنى ثانوي. ولأن هاري ممتلئ بصفاتٍ كاملة لا نهاية لها، سُمّي لذلك «برهمن».

Word by Word
विष्णौin Vishnu
विष्णौ:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootविष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन
एवalone/indeed
एव:
Emphasis (अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अवधारण
ब्रह्मशब्दःthe word ‘Brahman’
ब्रह्मशब्दः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्म + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
हिindeed
हि:
Emphasis (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (emphasis/causal)
मुख्यःprimary
मुख्यः:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of ब्रह्मशब्दः)
हिindeed
हि:
Emphasis (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात
अन्येषुin others
अन्येषु:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootअन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन
अमुख्यःsecondary/not primary
अमुख्यः:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअ + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of ब्रह्मशब्दः understood)
ब्रह्मरुद्रादिकेषुamong Brahma, Rudra, and others
ब्रह्मरुद्रादिकेषु:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्म + रुद्र + आदि + क (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ समाहार (etc.)
अनन्तगुणपूर्णत्वात्because of fullness of endless qualities
अनन्तगुणपूर्णत्वात्:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootअनन्त + गुण + पूर्ण + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (हेतु), एकवचन
ब्रह्म‘Brahman’
ब्रह्म:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इति-पूर्वपद (quoted term)
इतिthus
इति:
Discourse (उद्धरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उद्धरणचिह्न (quotative particle)
हरिःHari (Vishnu)
हरिः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootहरि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
उच्यतेis called
उच्यते:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (present); कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive); प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: ‘Brahman’ is chiefly (mukhya) applicable to Viṣṇu; for Brahmā, Rudra, etc., it is secondary (gauna). Hari is termed Brahman because He is infinitely and perfectly endowed with qualities.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-pramāṇa and lakṣaṇā/gaunatā: the Supreme as ananta-kalyāṇa-guṇa-paripūrṇa; Brahman as Bhagavān (saguṇa in the sense of infinite auspicious attributes).

Application: Use scriptural terms carefully: reserve ultimate predicates for the Supreme; cultivate contemplation of Viṣṇu’s ananta-kalyāṇa-guṇas as a bhakti-jnana practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.2.34 (Viṣṇu as supreme); Garuda Purana 3.2.36-38 (no other has infinite qualities; dharma and scriptural statements about infinity)

Characters & Entities
V
Vishnu
H
Hari
B
Brahma
R
Rudra

FAQs

This verse defines “Brahman” as a title that applies in the fullest, primary sense to Viṣṇu/Hari, grounding the word in the idea of infinite, complete divine qualities.

No. It states that the label “Brahman” is not primary for them; their association with the term is secondary compared to Viṣṇu, who is described as infinitely complete in attributes.

Use it to clarify devotion and study: when reflecting on the highest reality (Brahman), focus on cultivating remembrance, worship, and ethical living aligned with Hari’s divine qualities.

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