Shloka 10

Devanagari script

गुणाञ्जन गुणाधार निर्गुणात्मन् गुणस्थित मूर्तामूर्त महामूर्ते सूक्ष्ममूर्ते स्फुटास्फुट

Transliteration

guṇāñjana guṇādhāra nirguṇātman guṇasthita mūrtāmūrta mahāmūrte sūkṣmamūrte sphuṭāsphuṭa

Translation

O You who are the unguent of the guṇas and the ground where the guṇas rest—though Your essence is beyond all qualities, You yet uphold the qualities. You are with form and without form; the vastest and the subtlest; clearly manifest and yet unmanifest.

Word by Word

• गुण-अञ्जन: O one associated with/tinged by qualities
• गुण-अञ्जन: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गुणैः अञ्जनम्/गुणानां अञ्जनम्—गुणरञ्जक/गुणोपेत)

• गुण-आधार: O support of the qualities
• गुण-आधार: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गुणानाम् आधारः)

• निर्गुण-आत्मन्: O self beyond qualities
• निर्गुण-आत्मन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (निर्गुणः आत्मा)

• गुण-स्थित: O abiding in the qualities
• गुण-स्थित: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गुणेषु स्थितः)

• मूर्त-अमूर्त: O formed and formless
• मूर्त-अमूर्त: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अमूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (formed and formless)

• महा-मूर्ते: O great form
• महा-मूर्ते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महती मूर्तिः)

• सूक्ष्म-मूर्ते: O subtle form
• सूक्ष्म-मूर्ते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सूक्ष्मा मूर्तिः)

• स्फुट-अस्फुट: O clear and unclear
• स्फुट-अस्फुट: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्फुट (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्फुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (clear and unclear/manifest and unmanifest)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya; verse in a laudatory description of Vishnu’s supreme nature)

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme is the substratum and illuminator of the guṇas and forms, yet His essence remains nirguṇa, beyond limitation—both mūrta and amūrta, sphuṭa and asphuṭa.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: When encountering changeable moods (guṇas), treat them as supported by the Lord; practice detachment from the guṇas while deepening devotion to their transcendental ground.

Vishishtadvaita: A hallmark Viśiṣṭādvaita move: the world and guṇas are real modes dependent on the Lord (guṇasthita/guṇādhāra), while He remains untainted—transcendent yet inseparable from the cosmos.

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Teaching

Bhakti Quality: Philosophical bhakti: praising the Lord’s paradoxical immanence/transcendence

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of describing Vishnu as both nirguṇa and guṇādhāra in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse states that Vishnu’s essence transcends qualities, yet He is the substratum that upholds and governs the guṇas through which the cosmos functions.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the manifest and unmanifest aspects of reality here?

By calling Vishnu both sphuṭa and asphuṭa, Parāśara presents Him as the clearly perceivable universe and also the imperceptible, transcendent ground beyond sensory and conceptual grasp.

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

Vishnu is affirmed as the Supreme Reality who is simultaneously transcendent (beyond guṇas) and immanent (present as their support), anchoring creation and devotion in one ultimate Lord.