Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

विष्णुर् मन्वादयः कालः सर्वभूतानि च द्विज स्थितेर् निमित्तभूतस्य विष्णोर् एता विभूतयः

Transliteration

viṣṇur manvādayaḥ kālaḥ sarvabhūtāni ca dvija sthiter nimittabhūtasya viṣṇor etā vibhūtayaḥ

Translation

O twice-born, Viṣṇu, the Manus and the rest, Time itself, and all beings—these are the vibhūtis of Viṣṇu, who is the causal ground and sustaining instrument of the world’s continuance.

Word by Word

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मन्वादयः: Manus and others
• मन्वादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; मनु + आदि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कालः: Time
• कालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वभूतानि: all beings
• सर्वभूतानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-भूत (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + भूत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• च: Coordination (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक; Indeclinable conjunction

• द्विज: O twice-born
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• स्थितेः: of maintenance/continuance
• स्थितेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• निमित्तभूतस्य: of (him) who is the instrumental cause
• निमित्तभूतस्य: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निमित्त-भूत (प्रातिपदिक; निमित्त + भूत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Singular (agreeing with विष्णोः)

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• एताः: these
• एताः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally, Feminine, Nominative, Plural (agreeing with विभूतयः)

• विभूतयः: manifestations/powers
• विभूतयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How Vishnu sustains the world through Manus, Time, and beings as His vibhutis

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Manus, Time, and all beings are Vishnu’s manifestations, through which He operates as the sustaining causal ground of the world’s continuance.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Align daily life with dharmic order (law, time-discipline, stewardship), seeing governance and social order as sacred responsibility.

Vishishtadvaita: Immanence is explicit: Vishnu as nimitta and sustaining basis works through real entities (Manus, beings) without losing transcendence—qualified non-duality.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Vyuha Form: Aniruddha

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Manu (Manus/Manvantara rulers)
• Kāla (Time)
• Sarvabhūta (all beings)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Manvantara cycle in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames the Manus—who preside over each Manvantara—as vibhūtis of Vishnu, implying that cosmic administration across cycles is an extension of the Lord’s sustaining sovereignty.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the concept of cosmic stability (sthiti)?

Parāśara identifies Vishnu as the nimitta (instrumental cause) behind the world’s continuance, presenting order, governance, and preservation as grounded in the Supreme rather than as independent forces.

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

Vishnu is presented as the Supreme Reality whose vibhūtis include Time, rulers of ages, and all beings—supporting a Vaishnava view in which every sustaining power ultimately belongs to Him.