Shloka 55

ध्रुवस्य तपः — देवमायाविघ्नाः, विष्णोर्दर्शनम्, स्तुतिः, ध्रुवस्थानप्रदानम्

Devanagari script

भूरादीनां समस्तानां गन्धादीनां च शाश्वतः बुद्ध्यादीनां प्रधानस्य पुरुषस्य च यः परः

Transliteration

bhūrādīnāṃ samastānāṃ gandhādīnāṃ ca śāśvataḥ buddhyādīnāṃ pradhānasya puruṣasya ca yaḥ paraḥ

Translation

Eternally beyond the whole aggregate of elements beginning with earth, beyond the sensory qualities beginning with scent, beyond the inner instruments beginning with intellect, and beyond both Pradhāna and Puruṣa—He is the highest Reality.

Word by Word

• भूः-आदीनाम्: of (the group) beginning with earth
• भूः-आदीनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस-समूहवाचक; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; 'आदि'समासान्त (of those beginning with earth)

• समस्तानाम्: of all, of the entire
• समस्तानाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; विशेषण

• गन्धः-आदीनाम्: of (the group) beginning with smell
• गन्धः-आदीनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; (of those beginning with smell—i.e., tanmātras/qualities)

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

• शाश्वतः: eternal
• शाश्वतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषण (for yaḥ)

• बुद्धिः-आदीनाम्: of (the group) beginning with intellect
• बुद्धिः-आदीनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; (of those beginning with intellect)

• प्रधानस्य: of Pradhāna
• प्रधानस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• पुरुषस्य: of the Puruṣa
• पुरुषस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठī)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन

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

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (relative pronoun)

• परः: supreme, beyond
• परः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Hierarchy-transcendence: the Supreme beyond elements, tanmātras, inner instruments, Pradhāna and even the Puruṣa principle

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The highest reality is eternally beyond all categories—gross elements, sense-qualities, inner instruments, and even the Pradhāna/Puruṣa duality.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Use neti-neti style contemplation to loosen attachment to bodily and mental identifications while anchoring devotion in the Supreme.

Vishishtadvaita: Even while transcending tattva-categories, the Supreme remains their ground and ruler; categories are real but dependent (śeṣa) upon Him.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Pradhana (Prakriti)
• Bhutas (elements)
• Tanmatras (sense-qualities)

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu being described as beyond earth and the other elements in the Vishnu Purana?

It establishes Vishnu as transcendent to all material constituents (the bhūtas), indicating that creation depends on Him while He remains untouched by it.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Pradhāna and Puruṣa in this context?

He treats them as foundational cosmological categories—primordial Nature (Pradhāna) and consciousness (Puruṣa)—and then affirms the Supreme who surpasses both.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is presented as the highest principle—greater than matter, qualities, and even the duality of Prakriti and Purusha—supporting Vaishnava views of a personal, supreme Lord as ultimate reality.