Shloka 22

प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

न शब्दगोचरं यस्य योगिध्येयं परं पदम् यतो यश् च स्वयं विश्वं स विष्णुः परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

na śabdagocaraṃ yasya yogidhyeyaṃ paraṃ padam yato yaś ca svayaṃ viśvaṃ sa viṣṇuḥ parameśvaraḥ

Translation

His supreme state is beyond the reach of words, yet it is the highest goal contemplated by yogins; from Him the universe arises, and He Himself is this very universe—He is Vishnu, the Supreme Lord.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• शब्दगोचरम्: within verbal reach, expressible by words
• शब्दगोचरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शब्द + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शब्दस्य गोचरः) ‘within the range of words’

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• योगिध्येयम्: to be contemplated by yogins
• योगिध्येयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योगिन् + ध्येय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (योगिभिः ध्येयम्) ‘to be meditated on by yogins’

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पदम्: state, abode, position
• पदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यतः: from whom
• यतः: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative adverb) ‘from whom/wherefrom’

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• च: and
• च: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (emphatic adverb)

• विश्वम्: the universe
• विश्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (परमः ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu’s supreme state is beyond verbal description, yet knowable in yogic contemplation; He is both the source of the universe and its immanent reality.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Combine disciplined meditation with devotional surrender: contemplate the Lord as transcendent while seeing the world as His body and expression.

Vishishtadvaita: Śarīra-śarīrī-bhāva: the universe depends on and is pervaded by the Lord, without collapsing His transcendence.

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Teaching (Prahlada's schools)

Bhakti Quality: Tattva-jñāna grounded in bhakti: Viṣṇu is both transcendent (beyond speech) and immanent (as the universe).

Narasimha: Doctrinal ground for Nṛsiṃha’s imminent manifestation as the all-pervading Lord.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Universe (Viśva)

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu being described as beyond words in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse states that Vishnu’s highest reality (parama padam) cannot be fully captured by language, emphasizing His transcendence even while the text still points to Him through contemplative insight.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the object of yogic meditation here?

Parāśara identifies Vishnu’s supreme state as the yogins’ meditation-goal—known not by verbal definition but by sustained dhyāna that apprehends the ultimate ground of existence.

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

Vishnu is presented as Parameśvara who is both the cause of the universe and present as the universe itself, establishing Him as the supreme, all-encompassing reality central to Vaishnava cosmology and devotion.