Shloka 67

Devanagari script

पृथिव्य् आपस् तथा तेजो वायुर् आकाशम् एव च सर्वेन्द्रियान्तःकरणं पुरुषाख्यं हि यज् जगत्

Transliteration

pṛthivy āpas tathā tejo vāyur ākāśam eva ca sarvendriyāntaḥkaraṇaṃ puruṣākhyaṃ hi yaj jagat

Translation

Earth, water, fire, wind, and also ether—together with all the senses and the inner organ of mind—this entire universe is, in truth, what is called the Puruṣa, the Supreme Person.

Word by Word

• पृथिवी: earth
• पृथिवी: Karta (Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (pluralia tantum)

• तथा: likewise/and also
• तथा: Samuccaya (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb ‘likewise’)

• तेजः: fire/energy
• तेजः: Karta (Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वायुः: wind/air
• वायुः: Karta (Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आकाशम्: space/ether
• आकाशम्: Karta (Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (enumeration)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• सर्व-इन्द्रिय-अन्तःकरणम्: the inner organ (mind) along with all senses
• सर्व-इन्द्रिय-अन्तःकरणम्: Karta (Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तःकरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषाम् इन्द्रियाणाम् अन्तःकरणम्)

• पुरुष-आख्यम्: called ‘Puruṣa’
• पुरुष-आख्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक; √आ-ख्या ‘to name’ से)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पुरुष इति आख्यं यस्य)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Discourse/Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (explanatory particle)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Identification of the universe—elements, senses, and mind—as the Puruṣa’s body and designation

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The five great elements, along with the senses and inner organ (antaḥkaraṇa), constitute the universe that is termed the Puruṣa—pointing to the world as His embodied manifestation.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Use this as a contemplation: perceive body, mind, and environment as belonging to the Supreme, fostering humility and non-possessiveness.

Vishishtadvaita: Supports the śarīra–śarīrī relation: the universe (cit and acit) as the body of the Supreme Puruṣa who indwells it.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣa

FAQs

What is the significance of the five elements in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames earth, water, fire, air, and ether as foundational constituents of the cosmos, presented not as separate realities but as included within the single cosmic being called Puruṣa.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the relation between mind, senses, and the universe?

Parāśara includes both external elements and internal faculties (senses and antaḥkaraṇa) within “the universe,” indicating that cognition and materiality together belong to the ordered manifestation of the Puruṣa.

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

By identifying the totality of elements and faculties as “Puruṣa,” the teaching supports a Vishnu-centered vision in which the Supreme Person pervades and encompasses the cosmos as its inner reality and sovereign ground.