Shloka 84

प्रह्लादचरितम् (हिरण्यकशिपोः स्वर्गापहरणं, प्रह्लादस्य विष्णुभक्तिः, उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

विस्तारः सर्वभूतस्य विष्णोर् विश्वम् इदं जगत् द्रष्टव्यम् आत्मवत् तस्माद् अभेदेन विचक्षणैः

Transliteration

vistāraḥ sarvabhūtasya viṣṇor viśvam idaṃ jagat draṣṭavyam ātmavat tasmād abhedena vicakṣaṇaiḥ

Translation

This entire universe—this moving world—is the outspreading manifestation of Vishnu, the indwelling Self of all beings. Therefore, the wise should behold the whole of existence as they behold their own self: with a vision of non-separation and inner unity.

Word by Word

• विस्तारः: expansion/manifestation
• विस्तारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (masc nom sg)

• सर्वभूतस्य: of all beings
• सर्वभूतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन (neuter gen sg); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषः (सर्वाणि भूतानि)

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन (masc gen sg)

• विश्वम्: entire/universal
• विश्वम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (neuter nom sg)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (pronoun nom sg)

• जगत्: world/universe
• जगत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (neuter nom sg)

• द्रष्टव्यम्: should be seen
• द्रष्टव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रष्टव्य (कृदन्त; √दृश्)
• Form: कर्तव्य/भाव्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (neuter nom sg): to be seen

• आत्मवत्: as oneself
• आत्मवत्: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक (adverbial: like oneself)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-रूपेण अव्ययीभूतः; हेत्वर्थक/अपादानार्थक (therefore/from that)

• अभेदेन: with non-difference / without distinction
• अभेदेन: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (masc instr sg)

• विचक्षणैः: by the discerning
• विचक्षणैः: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन (masc instr pl)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Siddhānta: the universe as Vishnu’s manifestation and the wise vision of non-separation

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The moving universe is the expansion of Vishnu, the inner Self of all beings; therefore one should perceive all existence with non-separative vision, as oneself.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Practice ‘seeing Narayana’ in people and situations—reduce othering, cultivate reverence, and act with empathy and responsibility.

Vishishtadvaita: Classic Vishishtadvaita: Vishnu as antaryāmin and the world as His real ‘body’ (śarīra-śarīrī-bhāva), enabling unity without denying plurality.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of seeing the universe as Vishnu’s expansion in the Vishnu Purana?

It frames the cosmos as sacred and pervaded by Vishnu, turning cosmology into a spiritual discipline: reverence, restraint, and compassion arise from recognizing one divine reality expressed as all.

How does Sage Parāśara explain non-separation (abheda) here?

He teaches that the discerning should look upon the world “as oneself,” meaning the same divine Self that sustains one’s own life is present throughout beings and the universe, dissolving the sense of absolute otherness.

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

Vishnu is presented as the supreme ground and inner Self of all beings, with the universe as His manifestation—supporting a Vaishnava metaphysics where devotion and right conduct rest on perceiving His all-pervasiveness.