Shloka 38

विषप्रयोगः कृत्योत्पादनं च (प्रह्लादस्य अवध्यता, कृत्याविनाशः, पुरोहितानां रक्षणम्)

Devanagari script

यथा सर्वगतं विष्णुं मन्यमानो ऽनपायिनम् चिन्तयाम्य् अरिपक्षे ऽपि जीवन्त्व् एते तथा द्विजाः

Transliteration

yathā sarvagataṃ viṣṇuṃ manyamāno 'napāyinam cintayāmy aripakṣe 'pi jīvantv ete tathā dvijāḥ

Translation

Knowing Viṣṇu to be all-pervading and never absent, I hold this thought even amid the enemy ranks: “So too, may these twice-born men live.”

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Correlation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: यथार्थक अव्यय

• सर्वगतम्: all-pervading, present everywhere
• सर्वगतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: सर्व + गत (तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विष्णुम्)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मन्यमानः: thinking, considering
• मन्यमानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले आत्मनेपद-शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present middle participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि, विशेषणम् (अहम्—अध्याहृत)

• अनपायिनम्: never departing, unfailing
• अनपायिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन + अपायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विष्णुम्)

• चिन्तयामि: I contemplate
• चिन्तयामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अरिपक्षे: in the enemy’s side/camp
• अरिपक्षे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: अरि + पक्ष (तत्पुरुष); पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (also/even)

• जीवन्तु: may (they) live
• जीवन्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (द्विजाः)

• तथा: so, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Correlation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तथार्थक अव्यय

• द्विजाः: the twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

A righteous king/warrior-figure within the dynastic narrative (recounted by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu is sarvagata and anapāyin (never absent); constant remembrance of him sustains courage and becomes a vehicle of protection for others.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Maintain a steady inner mantra/remembering practice during stress or confrontation; let that steadiness guide ethical action.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s inseparable presence (anapāyitva) with the soul supports a relational, grace-centered path rather than impersonal abstraction.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Dvijas (twice-born)

FAQs

What is the significance of calling Vishnu “sarvagata” (all-pervading) in the Vishnu Purana?

It frames Vishnu as the ever-present Supreme Reality, so ethical action—even toward enemies—is grounded in seeing the Divine pervading all beings.

How does Sage Parāśara explain righteous conduct in the midst of conflict?

Through dynastic episodes, Parāśara highlights that dharma includes restraint and protection of sacred persons (dvijas), even when they are found on the opposing side.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu’s unfailing presence (“anapāyin”) becomes the spiritual basis for compassion and forbearance, aligning royal duty with Vaishnava metaphysics.