Shloka 5

वासुदेवस्वरूपनिरूपणं—सर्गक्रमश्च

Vāsudeva’s Nature and the Ordered Process of Creation

Devanagari script

आधारभूतं विश्वस्याप्य् अणीयांसम् अणीयसाम् प्रणम्य सर्वभूतस्थम् अच्युतं पुरुषोत्तमम्

Transliteration

ādhārabhūtaṃ viśvasyāpy aṇīyāṃsam aṇīyasām praṇamya sarvabhūtastham acyutaṃ puruṣottamam

Translation

Having bowed to Acyuta, the Supreme Person—foundation of the universe, subtler than the subtlest, abiding within all beings—I begin this sacred narration.

Word by Word

• आधारभूतम्: the one who has become the support (basis)
• आधारभूतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आधार (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त; भू धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; भूत-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (भूत = ‘become/being’), समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आधारस्य भूतम्)

• विश्वस्य: of the universe
• विश्वस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• अणीयांसम्: smaller (more subtle)
• अणीयांसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अणीयस् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक/तारतम्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-रूप (comparative)

• अणीयसाम्: of the smaller ones (of the subtlest)
• अणीयसाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अणीयस् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक/तारतम्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; तुलनात्मक-रूप

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial to main action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) ‘having bowed’

• सर्वभूतस्थम्: dwelling in all beings
• सर्वभूतस्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषु भूतेषु स्थितः)

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (the infallible one)
• अच्युतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• पुरुषोत्तमम्: the Supreme Person
• पुरुषोत्तमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुरुषाणाम् उत्तमः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (invocatory statement before instructing Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Invocation and establishing Viṣṇu as the universal ground before beginning the narration

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme Person is both the subtle ground of the universe and the indwelling presence within all beings, worthy of surrender and praise.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Begin study or action with remembrance of the indwelling Lord and cultivate seeing the divine support behind all experience.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms Viṣṇu as both transcendent (subtler than the subtlest) and immanent (sarvabhūtastha), grounding the world without collapsing it into illusion.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of calling Vishnu the 'foundation of the universe' in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Vishnu as the underlying ground (ādhāra) of all existence—creation rests in Him, is sustained by Him, and is intelligible through Him, establishing divine sovereignty before cosmological narration begins.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Vishnu’s presence in all beings here?

By describing Him as sarvabhūtastha, Parāśara presents Vishnu as immanent—the indwelling reality within every creature—while still being Puruṣottama, the transcendent Supreme Person.

What is the theological importance of 'Acyuta' and 'Puruṣottama' in this context?

Acyuta emphasizes Vishnu’s unfailing, unchanging supremacy, while Puruṣottama identifies Him as the highest personal reality—supporting Vishishtadvaita/Dvaita readings that the Absolute is the Supreme Lord, not an impersonal abstraction.