Shloka 24

प्रचेतसां तपः तथा विष्णु-स्तुतिः

The Pracetases’ Ocean Tapas and Hymn to Vishnu

Devanagari script

ज्योतिर् आद्यम् अनौपम्यम् अण्व् अनन्तम् अपारवत् योनिभूतम् अशेषस्य स्थावरस्य चरस्य च

Transliteration

jyotir ādyam anaupamyam aṇv anantam apāravat yonibhūtam aśeṣasya sthāvarasya carasya ca

Translation

He is the primal Light—matchless and beyond comparison: subtler than the subtlest, yet infinite and without limit. He becomes the womb and originating source of all that exists, of every immovable being and every moving creature.

Word by Word

• ज्योतिः: light/splendour
• ज्योतिः: Karta (Predicate-noun/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — nominative singular

• आद्यम्: primeval/first
• आद्यम्: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — adjective agreeing with ‘ज्योतिः’ in sense (predicative)

• अनौपम्यम्: incomparable
• अनौपम्यम्: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनौपम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — ‘incomparable’ (predicative adjective)

• अणु: minute/subtle
• अणु: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — ‘minute/subtle’ (predicative)

• अनन्तम्: endless
• अनन्तम्: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — ‘endless’ (predicative)

• अपारवत्: boundless
• अपारवत्: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपारवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — ‘having no far shore/limitless’

• योनिभूतम्: become the source
• योनिभूतम्: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक) + भू (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष) ‘योनिः’ + ‘भूत’ (क्तान्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन — ‘having become the source’

• अशेषस्य: of all/entire
• अशेषस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन — genitive singular

• स्थावरस्य: of the immobile (beings)
• स्थावरस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन — genitive singular

• चरस्य: of the mobile (beings)
• चरस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन — genitive singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक) — conjunction

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord is the primal Light—subtler than the subtlest yet infinite—and the womb/source of all beings, both moving and unmoving, affirming Him as material and efficient cause.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: In meditation, hold together God’s intimacy (subtle presence) and vastness (infinity), seeing all life as sheltered in the divine source.

Vishishtadvaita: Saguṇa-transcendence synthesis: the same Viṣṇu is infinitely great and yet immanently subtle, the yoni of all—supporting the body–soul relation of world to Brahman in Viśiṣṭādvaita.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of describing Vishnu as the 'primal Light' in the Vishnu Purana?

It identifies Vishnu as the ultimate, self-luminous reality—prior to and underlying creation—through whom all existence becomes knowable and sustained.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Supreme as both subtle (aṇu) and infinite (ananta)?

Parāśara uses paradox to show transcendence: Vishnu pervades all beings as the subtlest inner presence while also exceeding all limits as the boundless Absolute.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu being called the 'womb/source' (yoni) of all beings here?

It frames Vishnu as the universal cause and ground of both the immovable and the moving world, affirming divine sovereignty while keeping creation dependent on the Supreme.