Shloka 48

Devanagari script

निर्व्यापारम् अनाख्येयं व्याप्तिमात्रम् अनौपमम् आत्मसंबोधविषयं सत्तामात्रम् अलक्षणम्

Transliteration

nirvyāpāram anākhyeyaṃ vyāptimātram anaupamam ātmasaṃbodhaviṣayaṃ sattāmātram alakṣaṇam

Translation

He is actionless, beyond all telling; sheer all-pervasion, without any comparison. He is knowable only through direct inner awakening—mere Being itself, without mark or attribute.

Word by Word

• निर्व्यापारम्: free from activity; actionless
• निर्व्यापारम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir- + vyāpāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण; नञ्/निर्-पूर्वक-तत्पुरुष (निर्गत-व्यापारः)

• अनाख्येयम्: indescribable; not expressible
• अनाख्येयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an- + ākhyeya (प्रातिपदिक; √khyā (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (आख्येय = describable), नञ्-तत्पुरुष

• व्याप्तिमात्रम्: mere pervasion; only all-pervadingness
• व्याप्तिमात्रम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyāpti + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (व्याप्तिः एव मात्रम्)

• अनौपमम्: incomparable
• अनौपमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an- + aupama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (उपमा न अस्ति यस्य)

• आत्मसंबोधविषयम्: object of self-realization; within self-awareness
• आत्मसंबोधविषयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman + saṃbodha + viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/समाहार-तत्पुरुष (आत्मनः संबोधः = आत्मसंबोधः; तस्य विषयः)

• सत्तामात्रम्: mere existence; pure being
• सत्तामात्रम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sattā + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सत्ता एव मात्रम्)

• अलक्षणम्: without attributes/marks
• अलक्षणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (लक्षणं न अस्ति)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Nature of the supreme principle (Vishnu/Brahman) as beyond attributes and activity

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The supreme is actionless, incomparable, all-pervading pure Being, knowable only by direct inner awakening and not by external marks.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Shift contemplation from conceptual labels to inward discernment (ātma-sambodha) through steady meditation and self-inquiry.

Vishishtadvaita: Vishnu is presented as the supreme reality transcending limiting attributes, yet directly realizable in consciousness (not merely a negation), supporting a personal Absolute beyond material guṇas.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of describing Vishnu as nirvyāpāra (actionless) in the Vishnu Purana?

It presents the highest Vishnu-principle as transcendent and unchanged—beyond worldly doing—while still being the ground of all existence.

How does Sage Parāśara explain that the Supreme is anākhyeya (indescribable)?

He indicates that language and concepts cannot capture the ultimate reality; it is grasped not by description but by direct inner realization.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu being called vyāptimātra (pure all-pervasion) here?

It affirms Vishnu as the universal substratum pervading all beings and worlds—supporting Vaishnava Vedanta that the Supreme is immanent while remaining incomparable and beyond attributes.