Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

सर्गस्थित्यन्तकालेषु त्रिधैवं संप्रवर्तते गुणप्रवृत्त्या परमं पदं तस्यागुणं महत्

Transliteration

sargasthityantakāleṣu tridhaivaṃ saṃpravartate guṇapravṛttyā paramaṃ padaṃ tasyāguṇaṃ mahat

Translation

At the times of creation, preservation, and dissolution, He proceeds in a threefold way; yet amid the play of the guṇas, His supreme station remains the Great, nirguṇa—beyond all qualities.

Word by Word

• सर्ग-स्थिति-अन्त-कालेषु: in the times of creation, maintenance, and dissolution
• सर्ग-स्थिति-अन्त-कालेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; समाहार/निर्देशार्थक तत्पुरुष-समासः (सर्गे स्थितौ अन्ते च ये काला: तेषु)

• त्रिधा: in three ways
• त्रिधा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध-क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘तीन प्रकार से’

• एवम्: indeed, thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle-adverb): ‘एवं/indeed/just so’

• संप्रवर्तते: proceeds, functions
• संप्रवर्तते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृत् (धातु) + सम्-प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• गुण-प्रवृत्त्या: by the activity of the guṇas
• गुण-प्रवृत्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गुणानां प्रवृत्त्या)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (पदम् इति विशेष्य)

• पदम्: state, abode, position
• पदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अगुणम्: without guṇas, attributeless
• अगुणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अगुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (पदम् इति विशेष्य)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (पदम् इति विशेष्य)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Kalpa

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Though He operates threefold in creation, preservation, and dissolution through the guṇas, His supreme abode remains the great nirguṇa reality beyond qualities.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: See guṇa-driven change as functional manifestation while meditating on the Lord’s unconditioned supremacy beyond mental attributes.

Vishishtadvaita: Distinguishes the Lord’s guṇa-governed cosmic functions from His para-svarūpa; nirguṇatva here implies freedom from prakṛti-guṇas, not absence of auspicious attributes.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas)

FAQs

What is the significance of the threefold activity (creation, preservation, dissolution) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents the Lord’s governance of cosmic order through a threefold operation corresponding to sarga, sthiti, and anta (pralaya), showing that all cosmic change is rooted in His will and power.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of the guṇas here?

Parāśara indicates that the Lord ‘proceeds’ through the guṇas in managing the universe, yet He is not confined by them—His highest reality remains beyond guṇa-based modification.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu being called ‘aguṇa’ (nirguṇa) in this context?

It affirms Vishnu as the Supreme Reality whose transcendent nature is beyond material qualities, while still being the immanent ruler who manifests cosmic functions—central to Vaishnava metaphysics.