Shloka 56

ध्रुवस्य तपः — देवमायाविघ्नाः, विष्णोर्दर्शनम्, स्तुतिः, ध्रुवस्थानप्रदानम्

Devanagari script

तं ब्रह्मभूतम् आत्मानम् अशेषजगतः पतिम् प्रपद्ये शरणं शुद्धं त्वद्रूपं परमेश्वर

Transliteration

taṃ brahmabhūtam ātmānam aśeṣajagataḥ patim prapadye śaraṇaṃ śuddhaṃ tvadrūpaṃ parameśvara

Translation

O Parameśvara, I take refuge in that Self become Brahman, Lord of the entire universe; I surrender to the pure sanctuary that is Your very form.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• ब्रह्म-भूतम्: become Brahman; Brahman-like
• ब्रह्म-भूतम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषण (to तम्/आत्मानम्)

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• अशेष-जगतः: of the entire universe
• अशेष-जगतः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन; समष्टिवाचक (of the entire world)

• पतिम्: lord
• पतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• प्रपद्ये: I take refuge in, I resort to
• प्रपद्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person); एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• शरणम्: as refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (Object complement/कर्मपूरक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (as object complement)

• शुद्धम्: pure
• शुद्धम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषण (to शरणम्/त्वद्रूपम्)

• त्वत्-रूपम्: your form
• त्वत्-रूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; सम्बोधन-सम्बन्ध (your-form)

• परम-ईश्वर: O Supreme Lord
• परम-ईश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/8th); एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya; voiced as a devotional surrender/hymn within the discourse)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Śaraṇāgati to Parameśvara as the universe’s Lord and the pure refuge; Brahman-language applied to Viṣṇu

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The supreme Self—Brahman and Lord of all worlds—is the sole pure refuge; surrender to Him is the culminating spiritual act.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Adopt śaraṇāgati: acknowledge limitation, seek the Lord’s protection, and align choices with dharma as an offering.

Vishishtadvaita: Brahman is personal Parameśvara: liberation is relational refuge in the Lord, not dissolution into an impersonal absolute.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Parameśvara
• Brahman
• Jagat (the universe)

FAQs

What is the significance of śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents surrender as the direct spiritual act—seeking the Lord Himself as the pure refuge—affirming devotion as a valid path to the Supreme.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Supreme as both Ātman and Brahman?

By calling the Lord the Ātman and ‘brahma-bhūta,’ the text unites inner immanence (Self within all) with ultimate transcendence (Brahman), framing Vishnu as the highest reality.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is implied as Parameśvara—pure, the Lord of all worlds, and the very ground of Brahman—supporting a Vedantic Vaishnava view of God as both personal refuge and cosmic sovereign.