Shloka 7

वासुदेवस्वरूपनिरूपणं—सर्गक्रमश्च

Vāsudeva’s Nature and the Ordered Process of Creation

Devanagari script

विष्णुं ग्रसिष्णुं विश्वस्य स्थितिसर्गे तथा प्रभुम् प्रणम्य जगताम् ईशम् अजम् अक्षयम् अव्ययम्

Transliteration

viṣṇuṃ grasiṣṇuṃ viśvasya sthitisarge tathā prabhum praṇamya jagatām īśam ajam akṣayam avyayam

Translation

Having bowed to Viṣṇu—He who reabsorbs all, sovereign Lord of the universe in preservation and creation—I offer homage to the Ruler of all worlds: the Unborn, the Imperishable, the Undiminishing, the Unchanging.

Word by Word

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

• ग्रसिष्णुम्: the devourer (absorber)
• ग्रसिष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रस् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ष्णु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (habitual/agentive) ‘one who devours’

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

• स्थितिसर्गे: in (its) maintenance and creation
• स्थितिसर्गे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (स्थिति च सर्गश्च)

• तथा: and/also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-उपपद (adverb)

• प्रभुम्: the Lord
• प्रभुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

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

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• ईशम्: the ruler
• ईशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अजम्: unborn
• अजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अक्षयम्: imperishable
• अक्षयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अव्ययम्: unchanging
• अव्ययम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (invocatory verse, addressed to Viṣṇu)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Invocation emphasizing Viṣṇu as creator, preserver, and reabsorber of the universe

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Kalpa

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu is the unborn, imperishable sovereign who governs creation, preservation, and reabsorption of the cosmos.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate cyclic change without anxiety by anchoring faith in the unchanging Lord who upholds and resolves all phases of life.

Vishishtadvaita: Asserts Bhagavān as jagat-kāraṇa and niyantṛ (ruler), supporting a qualified non-dual view where the world depends on Him yet He remains akṣaya/avyaya.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of creation (sarga) and preservation (sthiti) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames sarga and sthiti as functions governed by Viṣṇu’s lordship, establishing cosmic order as an expression of the Supreme’s sovereignty rather than an independent mechanism.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Supreme Lord before beginning the teaching?

He begins with an invocation: Viṣṇu is praised as the one who creates, sustains, and ultimately withdraws the universe—unborn, imperishable, and unchanged—setting the theological foundation for the chapters that follow.

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

Viṣṇu is presented as the ultimate ruler of all worlds and the immutable ground of cosmology—supporting a Vaishnava view where the Supreme Person is the source, sustainer, and end of the cosmos.