Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

यानीन्द्रियाण्य् अशेषाणि बुद्धिकर्मात्मकानि वै शररूपाण्य् अशेषाणि तानि धत्ते जनार्दनः

Transliteration

yānīndriyāṇy aśeṣāṇi buddhikarmātmakāni vai śararūpāṇy aśeṣāṇi tāni dhatte janārdanaḥ

Translation

All the senses without exception—together with the faculties of intellect and action—and all embodied forms: it is Janārdana who bears them, sustains them, and holds them in being.

Word by Word

• यानि: which (things)
• यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative)

• इन्द्रियाणि: senses
• इन्द्रियाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अशेषाणि: all, without remainder
• अशेषाणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (इन्द्रियाणि/शररूपाणि)

• बुद्धिकर्मात्मकानि: consisting of intellect and action
• बुद्धिकर्मात्मकानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुद्धि + कर्म + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—बुद्धिः कर्म च तयोः आत्मकानि इति (समाहार-द्वन्द्व + तत्पुरुषप्राय; व्यवहारतः बहुपद-तत्पुरुष); विशेषणम् (इन्द्रियाणि)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• शररूपाणि: forms of arrows
• शररूपाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—शरस्य रूपम् इति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अशेषाणि: all
• अशेषाणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (शररूपाणि)

• तानि: those
• तानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; निर्देशक-सर्वनाम

• धत्ते: holds/bears
• धत्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How indriyas, buddhi, karma-faculties, and embodied forms are sustained by Janārdana (support doctrine)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All sensory and action faculties, along with intellect and embodied forms, are borne and sustained by Janārdana, indicating the dependence of body-mind complex on the indwelling Lord.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Practice ‘witnessed living’: before action, recall the faculties are sustained by the Lord; act with humility and accountability.

Vishishtadvaita: Śarīra–śarīrī bhāva: beings (as body) are supported and governed by the Lord (as inner Self), preserving plurality within non-dual dependence.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Indriyas (senses)
• Buddhi (intellect)

FAQs

What is the significance of the senses (indriyas) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames the senses and their operations as dependent realities—functions that exist and endure only because Janārdana sustains them.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the relationship between intellect (buddhi), action, and the Supreme Lord?

Parāśara presents buddhi and karmic activity as integrated faculties within embodied life, all of which are borne and governed by Vishnu as their ultimate support.

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

Vishnu is affirmed as the Supreme Reality who underlies and upholds every embodied form and every inner capacity, reinforcing divine immanence alongside transcendence in Vaishnava philosophy.