Shloka 31

Devanagari script

विष्णोः सकाशाद् उद्भूतं जगत् तत्रैव च स्थितम् स्थितिसंयमकर्तासौ जगतो ऽस्य जगच् च सः

Transliteration

viṣṇoḥ sakāśād udbhūtaṃ jagat tatraiva ca sthitam sthitisaṃyamakartāsau jagato 'sya jagac ca saḥ

Translation

From the very presence of Viṣṇu the universe arises, and in Him alone it abides. He ordains its continuance and its restraint (its dissolution and governance); He is the maker of this world—and He Himself is this world as well.

Word by Word

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• सकाशात्: from (the presence of)
• सकाशात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/उपसर्गसदृश), अपादानार्थे ‘from the presence of’

• उद्भूतम्: arisen, produced
• उद्भूतम्: Karma/Predicate (Object-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-भू (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘arisen/produced’

• जगत्: the world, universe
• जगत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) स्थानवाचक

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) अवधारणार्थक

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक)

• स्थितम्: abiding, situated
• स्थितम्: Predicate (State of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘standing/abiding’

• स्थिति-संयम-कर्ता: the maker of maintenance and restraint
• स्थिति-संयम-कर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक) + संयम (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘स्थितेः संयमस्य कर्ता’

• असौ: that (one), he
• असौ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (Co-subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Nature of Viṣṇu as the source, support, regulator, and identity of the universe

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The universe arises from Viṣṇu, abides in Him, is governed by Him, and is non-separate from Him as His mode (prakāra).

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate all experience as sustained by the indwelling Lord, cultivating surrender and steadiness amid change.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms Viṣṇu as both efficient and material cause while the world remains His real dependent attribute (śarīra-śarīrī-bhāva).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu being both the source and the abode of the universe in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Vishnu as the origin, support, and final ground of the cosmos—everything proceeds from Him, rests in Him, and is governed by Him.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the concept of cosmic control (saṃyama) here?

Parāśara states that Vishnu not only sustains the world (sthiti) but also restrains and resolves it (saṃyama), indicating divine governance over both order and dissolution.

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

Vishnu is affirmed as the Supreme Reality whose sovereignty includes creation, preservation, and dissolution, and whose presence pervades the world while remaining its ultimate Lord.