Shloka 9

प्रह्लादस्य अव्यभिचारिणी भक्ति, मायाविनाशः, तथा विष्णोः विश्वरूप-स्तुतिः

Devanagari script

एवं सर्वेषु भूतेषु भक्तिर् अव्यभिचारिणी कर्तव्या पण्डितैर् ज्ञात्वा सर्वभूतमयं हरिम्

Transliteration

evaṃ sarveṣu bhūteṣu bhaktir avyabhicāriṇī kartavyā paṇḍitair jñātvā sarvabhūtamayaṃ harim

Translation

Thus, the wise—having understood that Hari pervades and constitutes all beings—should cultivate unwavering devotion toward Him in every creature, without deviation or partiality.

Word by Word

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

• सर्वेषु: in all
• सर्वेषु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (भूतेषु)

• भूतेषु: in beings
• भूतेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अव्यभिचारिणी: unwavering/undeviating
• अव्यभिचारिणी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + व्यभिचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (भक्तिः)

• कर्तव्या: should be done/ought to be practiced
• कर्तव्या: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भविष्यत्/आदेशार्थक-कृदन्त (gerundive/तव्यत्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate)

• पण्डितैः: by the wise
• पण्डितैः: Karana (Instrument/Agentive means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (having known)

• सर्वभूतमयम्: consisting of/filled with all beings
• सर्वभूतमयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + भूत + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (सर्वभूतैः मयः/सर्वभूतमयः) इति तत्पुरुष (सम्बन्ध-निर्देश)

• हरिम्: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेष-नाम

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Nature of true devotion and its fruits—how seeing Hari in all beings transforms conduct and suffering.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowing Hari as ‘sarvabhūtamaya’ (pervading and constituting all beings), the wise should practice unwavering devotion that expresses itself toward Him in every creature.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Adopt a daily ‘sarva-bhūta-sevā’ discipline—speak and act with respect toward all, treating compassion as worship of Hari-in-all.

Vishishtadvaita: Qualified non-dualism: the many beings are real modes/attributes dependent on Hari, so devotion naturally extends to all without collapsing personal distinctness.

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Teaching (Prahlada's schools)

Bhakti Quality: Avyabhicāriṇī-bhakti—non-deviating devotion expressed as equal reverence toward Hari present in every creature.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of unwavering devotion (avyabhicāriṇī bhakti) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse defines true devotion as steady and non-deviating, rooted in the insight that Hari pervades all beings; devotion becomes constant because its object is present everywhere.

How does Sage Parāśara explain devotion in relation to knowledge of Vishnu?

Parāśara links bhakti to realization (jñātvā): once one knows Vishnu as sarvabhūtamaya, devotion is to be practiced toward Him in all creatures, not merely as a private sentiment.

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

Vishnu is presented as the supreme, all-pervading reality within all beings; therefore, devotion to Vishnu naturally expresses itself as reverence and spiritual regard toward all life.