Shloka 35

Devanagari script

एवम् एव विभागो ऽयं स्थिताव् अप्य् उपदिश्यते चतुर्धा देवदेवस्य मैत्रेय प्रलये तथा

Transliteration

evam eva vibhāgo 'yaṃ sthitāv apy upadiśyate caturdhā devadevasya maitreya pralaye tathā

Translation

So too is this very principle of differentiation taught even in the state of preservation: the Lord of gods, O Maitreya, is understood there as fourfold as well—and likewise in the time of dissolution.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Kriya-vishesana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• विभागः: division, distribution
• विभागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• स्थितौ: in preservation (state)
• स्थितौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (वैदिक/छान्दस रूप: स्थितौ = स्थितौ/स्थित्याम्)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थे (also/even)

• उपदिश्यते: is taught/indicated
• उपदिश्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

• चतुर्धा: fourfold
• चतुर्धा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर्धा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संख्याविशेषण-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: in four ways)

• देव-देवस्य: of the God of gods
• देव-देवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां देवः)

• मैत्रेय: O Maitreya
• मैत्रेय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• प्रलये: in dissolution
• प्रलये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: likewise)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the Lord’s fourfold differentiation applies in creation, preservation, and dissolution

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Kalpa

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The same fourfold principle of the Lord is taught not only for creation but also for preservation and for dissolution.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Study recurring patterns across life’s beginnings, continuities, and endings; use them to stabilize devotion amid change.

Vishishtadvaita: The one Lord can be spoken of in differentiated modes (powers/functions) without compromising unity—unity-in-difference.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Vyuha Form: Vasudeva

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of the Lord being described as “fourfold” in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights that the same fourfold principle of the Supreme Lord’s operation applies not only in cosmic origination but also during maintenance and dissolution—showing a consistent, sovereign order behind all phases of the cosmos.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the continuity of cosmic order across sthiti and pralaya?

Parāśara teaches Maitreya that the Lord’s differentiated modes/functions are not limited to one cosmic phase; the same structured divine governance persists in preservation and reappears in dissolution.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is presented as Devadeva—Supreme over all gods—whose ordered, multi-aspect power underlies creation, sustenance, and dissolution, aligning with Vaishnava metaphysics that place Vishnu as the ultimate reality and ruler of cosmic cycles.