Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

नमस् कृत्वाप्रमेयाय विष्णवे प्रभविष्णवे कथयामि यथाख्यातं वसिष्ठेन ममाभवत्

Transliteration

namas kṛtvāprameyāya viṣṇave prabhaviṣṇave kathayāmi yathākhyātaṃ vasiṣṭhena mamābhavat

Translation

Having bowed in reverence to Vishnu—immeasurable, and the very source from whom all arises—I shall now relate it exactly as it was told to me by Vasiṣṭha.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayoga (Interjectional)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (salutation particle)

• कृत्वा: having done (having offered)
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Absolutive/ल्यबन्त), पूर्वकाल (having done)

• अप्रमेयाय: to the immeasurable
• अप्रमेयाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्रमेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; विष्णवे विशेषणम्

• विष्णवे: to Vishnu
• विष्णवे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन

• प्रभविष्णवे: to the mighty Vishnu
• प्रभविष्णवे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (प्रभुः विष्णुः = the mighty Vishnu)

• कथयामि: I narrate, I tell
• कथयामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यथा: as, according to
• यथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as, according to)

• आख्यातम्: told, explained
• आख्यातम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√ख्या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (that which was told)

• वसिष्ठेन: by Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/कर्तृ-निर्देश (by Vasiṣṭha)

• मम: to me / of me
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• अभवत्: was, occurred
• अभवत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; invoking Vishnu and citing Vasiṣṭha as prior authority)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Prefatory obeisance before explaining Viṣṇu’s sustaining of the cosmos; citing Vasiṣṭha as source of the teaching

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: reverential

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right teaching begins with surrenderful homage to the immeasurable Lord, acknowledging Him as the source of all and receiving knowledge through a recognized guru-paramparā.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Begin study or practice with a short prayer and commitment to learn through trustworthy lineages and careful transmission.

Vishishtadvaita: Stresses prapatti-like humility and the supremacy of the personal Lord as the origin (prabhava) of all, consistent with Viśiṣṭādvaita devotion grounded in śāstra and ācārya.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vasiṣṭha

FAQs

What is the significance of calling Vishnu ‘aprameya’ in the Vishnu Purana?

It presents Vishnu as beyond measure and full conceptual grasp—Supreme Reality who transcends ordinary cognition while remaining the foundation of the cosmos.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the reliability of his narration here?

He anchors it in a lineage of transmission, stating he will narrate exactly what Vasiṣṭha previously taught him, strengthening scriptural authority through paramparā.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu being addressed as ‘prabhaviṣṇu’ in this context?

It emphasizes Vishnu as the originating sovereign cause of manifestation, aligning the upcoming cosmological account with a Vaishnava view of the Supreme Lord as source and sustainer.