Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

सर्वभूतेषु चान्येन संस्थितः कुरुते स्थितिम् सत्त्वं गुणं समाश्रित्य जगतः पुरुषोत्तमः

Transliteration

sarvabhūteṣu cānyena saṃsthitaḥ kurute sthitim sattvaṃ guṇaṃ samāśritya jagataḥ puruṣottamaḥ

Translation

By another portion He dwells within all beings and establishes the world’s stability. Puruṣottama, taking refuge in sattva-guṇa, upholds the universe.

Word by Word

• sarvabhūteṣu: in all beings
• sarvabhūteṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (sarveṣu bhūteṣu)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• anyena: by another (portion)
• anyena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (aṃśena implied)

• saṃsthitaḥ: situated/established
• saṃsthitaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃ-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (puruṣottamaḥ)

• kurute: does/causes
• kurute: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• sthitim: stability/continuance
• sthitim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• sattvam: sattva (purity)
• sattvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• guṇam: quality
• guṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• samāśritya: having resorted to
• samāśritya: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-ā-√śri (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), अव्यय

• jagataḥ: of the world
• jagataḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• puruṣottamaḥ: the Supreme Person
• puruṣottamaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (uttamaḥ puruṣaḥ)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the Supreme Person is within all beings yet distinct, sustaining the world through sattva

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Puruṣottama is immanent in all beings as their inner governor while remaining other than them, sustaining cosmic stability through sattva.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Practice seeing the Lord as the indweller in all, cultivating sāttvika conduct (clarity, compassion, restraint).

Vishishtadvaita: Explicit antaryāmin-with-difference: the Lord pervades beings yet is not reducible to them (śarīra-śarīrī relation implied).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Sattva guṇa
• All beings (sarvabhūta)

FAQs

What is the significance of sattva-guṇa in the Vishnu Purana’s description of cosmic maintenance?

This verse states that preservation (sthiti) of the universe is accomplished when Vishnu, the Supreme Person, operates through sattva—symbolizing harmony, clarity, and orderly stability.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Vishnu being both within all beings and yet distinct?

Parāśara presents Vishnu as pervading all beings (immanence) while remaining “other than” them (transcendence), indicating the Lord’s sovereignty over the world rather than identity as a limited creature.

What is the theological importance of calling Vishnu ‘Puruṣottama’ here?

By naming him Puruṣottama, the verse emphasizes Vishnu as the Supreme Reality who governs cosmic functions—especially preservation—by directing the guṇas, rather than being subject to them.