Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

एवंप्रकारम् अमलं नित्यं व्यापकम् अक्षयम् समस्तहेयरहितं विष्ण्वाख्यं परमं पदम्

Transliteration

evaṃprakāram amalaṃ nityaṃ vyāpakam akṣayam samastaheyarahitaṃ viṣṇvākhyaṃ paramaṃ padam

Translation

Such, indeed, is that supreme station called ‘Vishnu’: stainless and ever-existent, all-pervading and imperishable—utterly free from every defect and all that is to be rejected.

Word by Word

• एवंप्रकारम्: of such a nature; thus characterized
• एवंप्रकारम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय) + prakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास (एवं प्रकारः = of such a kind)

• अमलम्: stainless; pure
• अमलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + mala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष

• नित्यम्: eternal
• नित्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• व्यापकम्: all-pervading
• व्यापकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyāpaka (प्रातिपदिक; √vyāp (धातु) + ण्वुल्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कृदन्त (agentive)

• अक्षयम्: imperishable
• अक्षयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष

• समस्तहेयरहितम्: devoid of all that is to be rejected
• समस्तहेयरहितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samasta + heya + rahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (समस्तं हेयं = all that is to be abandoned; तेन रहितम्)

• विष्ण्वाख्यम्: called ‘Viṣṇu’
• विष्ण्वाख्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇu + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (विष्णु-आख्य = named ‘Viṣṇu’)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• पदम्: state; abode; goal
• पदम्: Visheshya (Head term/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Summation of the nature of the supreme station named Vishnu as stainless, eternal, all-pervading, imperishable

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The supreme abode called Vishnu is eternally pure, all-pervading, imperishable, and devoid of every defect.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Use these negations (free from defects) as a contemplative checklist to refine one’s conception of the Divine beyond worldly limitations.

Vishishtadvaita: Names the supreme ‘Vishnu’ as the parama pada, aligning Brahman with the personal Lord who is free from all doṣas and the goal of realization.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of ‘paramaṃ padam’ (the supreme abode) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse defines the supreme goal/abode as ‘Vishnu’ Himself—pure, eternal, all-pervading, and beyond decay—establishing liberation as reaching or realizing that flawless supreme reality.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the nature of the Supreme in this passage?

By listing defining attributes—amala (stainless), nitya (eternal), vyāpaka (all-pervading), akṣaya (imperishable)—and emphasizing samasta-heya-rahita, he frames Vishnu as the ultimate, defectless principle.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is presented as the highest ‘padam’ and the perfectly pure, immutable foundation of reality—supporting a Vaishnava view where the Supreme is personal and yet transcendent, untouched by all limitations.