Shloka 15

Cosmic Appointments, Viṣṇu’s Vibhūtis, Fourfold Operation, and the Symbolism of Ornaments and Weapons

Devanagari script

ये भविष्यन्ति ये भूताः सर्वभूतेश्वरा द्विज ते सर्वे सर्वभूतस्य विष्णोर् अंशा द्विजोत्तम

Transliteration

ye bhaviṣyanti ye bhūtāḥ sarvabhūteśvarā dvija te sarve sarvabhūtasya viṣṇor aṃśā dvijottama

Translation

O best of the twice-born, those yet to be born and those already existing—all who are called lords among beings—each is but a portion (aṁśa) of Viṣṇu, the Lord of all creatures.

Word by Word

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• भविष्यन्ति: will be
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• भूताः: those who have been (past beings)
• भूताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भू)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः (past participle) ‘those who have been’

• सर्वभूतेश्वराः: lords of all beings
• सर्वभूतेश्वराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां भूतानाम् ईश्वराः)

• द्विज: O twice-born
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम् (they)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (agreeing with ते)

• सर्वभूतस्य: of the all-being (the one who is all beings)
• सर्वभूतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (of the being who is all beings / of the all-being)

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्

• अंशाः: parts; portions
• अंशाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजोत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (द्विजेषु उत्तमः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Whether all beings and future rulers ultimately derive their lordship from Viṣṇu.

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All present and future ‘lords among beings’ are aṃśas—dependent portions—of Viṣṇu, the inner Self and ground of all creatures.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Practice seeing agency and excellence as derivative; offer the fruits of ability and status back to the indwelling Lord through daily remembrance and ethical restraint.

Vishishtadvaita: Supports qualified non-dualism: plurality of finite selves and powers subsists as real yet wholly dependent modes (prakāras) of Viṣṇu, the antaryāmin.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of calling all beings 'aṃśas' (portions) of Vishnu in the Vishnu Purana?

It establishes Vishnu as the ultimate ground of existence: all beings, even the most powerful rulers, derive their being and authority from Him and are dependent manifestations of His reality.

How does Sage Parāśara explain universal sovereignty in this passage?

By stating that even those regarded as 'lords of beings' are not independent; their power is secondary and sourced from Vishnu, who alone is the Lord of all beings.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is presented as the Supreme Reality behind the cosmos—immanent in all life and yet the transcendent source—supporting core Vaishnava Vedanta themes of dependence and divine sovereignty.