Shloka 68

Devanagari script

यथा हि कदली नान्या त्वक्पत्रान् नाथ दृश्यते एवं विश्वस्य नान्यस् त्वं त्वत्स्थायीश्वर दृश्यते

Transliteration

yathā hi kadalī nānyā tvakpatrān nātha dṛśyate evaṃ viśvasya nānyas tvaṃ tvatsthāyīśvara dṛśyate

Translation

Just as, O Lord, a banana plant is not seen as anything apart from its sheathing layers of bark and leaves, so too this entire universe is not seen as other than You; for it stands established in You, and You alone are perceived as its abiding Sovereign.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (comparative/manner)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal)

• कदली: banana plant
• कदली: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अन्या: another (different)
• अन्या: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्वक्-पत्रान्: bark-leaves (sheaths)
• त्वक्-पत्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वच् (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (पत्र), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (त्वचः पत्राणि)

• नाथ: O Lord
• नाथ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• दृश्यते: is seen
• दृश्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (दृश् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• विश्वस्य: of the universe
• विश्वस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• अन्यः: another (other)
• अन्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्वत्-स्थायी-ईश्वर: O Lord abiding in you (all) / O indwelling Lord
• त्वत्-स्थायी-ईश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वत् (युष्मद्-आदेश) + स्थायिन् (स्था धातु, णिनि-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (त्वयि स्थायी) + कर्मधारय (स्थायी ईश्वरः) समास-समुच्चय

• दृश्यते: is seen
• दृश्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (दृश् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya; voiced as a hymn-like assertion to the Lord)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the universe is non-separate from the Lord and abides in Him

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: As the banana plant is nothing apart from its sheathing layers, the universe is not other than the Lord, for it stands established in Him as its abiding ruler.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Practice seeing all names and forms as resting in the divine presence; reduce egoic separation by offering actions as service to the indwelling Lord.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms apr̥thak-siddhi (inseparable dependence): the world and selves are real modes (prakāra) of the Lord, who remains the sovereign substratum.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ishvara (the Lord)

FAQs

What is the significance of the banana-plant analogy in the Vishnu Purana?

It illustrates non-separateness: the universe is not an independent reality apart from Vishnu, but a dependent manifestation resting in Him as its support.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the universe’s relationship to God here?

He presents Vishnu as the abiding Īśvara in whom the cosmos stands—everything is perceived through its dependence on the Lord, not as a separate ultimate principle.

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

Vishnu is affirmed as the Supreme Reality and indwelling sovereign: the world’s order, existence, and continuity are grounded in Him alone.