Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

तद् एतद् अक्षयं नित्यं जगन् मुनिवराखिलम् आविर्भावतिरोभावजन्मनाशविकल्पवत्

Transliteration

tad etad akṣayaṃ nityaṃ jagan munivarākhilam āvirbhāvatirobhāvajanmanāśavikalpavat

Translation

Thus, O best of sages, this entire universe is imperishable and eternal; yet it is spoken of as though it undergoes alternations of appearing and disappearing, of birth and destruction.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshya (Correlative/अनुवर्त्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• एतत्: this (very)
• एतत्: Visheshya (Apposition/समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अक्षयम्: imperishable
• अक्षयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

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

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• मुनिवराखिलम्: entire (as taught by the best sages)
• मुनिवराखिलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुनिवर + अखिल (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (muni-vara = श्रेष्ठ-मुनि; अखिल = सर्व)

• आविर्भावतिरोभावजन्मनाशविकल्पवत्: having the alternatives of manifestation, disappearance, birth, and destruction
• आविर्भावतिरोभावजन्मनाशविकल्पवत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आविर्भाव + तिरोभाव + जन्म + नाश + विकल्प + वत् (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/सम्बन्धः): ‘आविर्भाव-तिरोभाव-जन्म-नाश-विकल्प’ इति विकल्पाः यस्य; ‘वत्’ प्रत्ययान्त (possessing)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Nature of the universe as eternal yet appearing to undergo creation and destruction (āvirbhāva/tirobhāva).

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The jagat is called eternal and imperishable in essence, though it is conventionally described as alternately manifesting and withdrawing.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Contemplate changing experiences as appearances on an underlying continuity, reducing anxiety about rise and fall.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms real continuity of the cosmos under divine governance while allowing for cyclical manifestation/withdrawal rather than absolute non-being.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Universe (Jagat)
• Sages (Muni)

FAQs

What is the significance of āvirbhāva and tirobhāva in the Vishnu Purana?

They describe the universe’s recurring phases of manifestation and withdrawal, showing that cosmic change is cyclical and ordered rather than random annihilation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the universe as both eternal and changing?

He frames change as vikalpa—an apparent alternation of birth and destruction—while asserting an underlying imperishability (akṣaya) and continuity (nitya) of the cosmic principle.

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

The verse supports a Vaishnava metaphysics where the Supreme (Vishnu) grounds cosmic permanence, and creation/dissolution are modes of His ordered governance rather than ultimate negations.