Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

एवम् एव जगत्स्रष्टा जगत्पाता तथा जगत् जगद्भक्षयिता देवः समस्तस्य जनार्दनः

Transliteration

evam eva jagatsraṣṭā jagatpātā tathā jagat jagadbhakṣayitā devaḥ samastasya janārdanaḥ

Translation

Thus, Janārdana—the Divine Lord of all—alone is the creator of the universe, the protector of the universe, and likewise the one who consumes it in dissolution: the single sovereign over all existence.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• एवम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध-क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘एवं/इस प्रकार’

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle): अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• जगत्-स्रष्टा: creator of the world
• जगत्-स्रष्टा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्रष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक; √सृज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जगतः स्रष्टा)

• जगत्-पाता: protector of the world
• जगत्-पाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पातृ (प्रातिपदिक; √पा धातु ‘पालने’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जगतः पाता)

• तथा: likewise, and also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध-क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘तथा/और भी/likewise’

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जगत्-भक्षयिता: devourer/destroyer of the world
• जगत्-भक्षयिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्षयितृ (प्रातिपदिक; √भक्ष् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जगतः भक्षयिता)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• समस्तस्य: of the entire (all)
• समस्तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषण (genitive qualifier)

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Kalpa

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Janārdana alone is the single sovereign who creates, sustains, and reabsorbs the universe.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate one ultimate refuge behind all change and offer actions to that Lord as the inner ruler of outcomes.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms Viṣṇu as both nimitta and upādāna-kāraṇa (efficient and material cause) of jagat, supporting non-dual dependence of the world on Him.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Janardana

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu being called the creator, protector, and devourer of the universe in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Vishnu (Janardana) as the single supreme ruler behind sarga (creation), sthiti (preservation), and pralaya (dissolution), unifying all cosmic functions in one ultimate Lord.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the cosmic functions of the Supreme Lord?

In his instruction to Maitreya, Parāśara frames the universe’s origin, maintenance, and reabsorption as expressions of Janardana’s lordship—one deity governing the entire cycle rather than separate independent powers.

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

The verse underscores Vaishnava metaphysics: Vishnu is not merely a participant within the cosmos but the Supreme Reality who sustains and finally withdraws all worlds into himself.