Shloka 24

रुद्रसर्गः (नीललोहितः), अष्टनाम-स्थान-परिवारः, श्री-नारायणयोः अभेदव्याप्तिः

Devanagari script

शशाङ्कः श्रीधरः कान्तिः श्रीस् तस्यैवानपायिनी धृतिर् लक्ष्मीर् जगच्चेष्टा वायुः सर्वत्रगो हरिः

Transliteration

śaśāṅkaḥ śrīdharaḥ kāntiḥ śrīs tasyaivānapāyinī dhṛtir lakṣmīr jagacceṣṭā vāyuḥ sarvatrago hariḥ

Translation

He is Śaśāṅka, the Moon; He is Śrīdhara, bearer of Śrī. He is Kānti, the splendor, and Śrī (Lakṣmī) never departs from Him. He is Dhṛti, steadfastness; He is Lakṣmī herself; He is the impulse and activity of the moving universe; He is Vāyu, the all-ranging life-breath—Hari, all-pervading.

Word by Word

• शशाङ्कः: the moon
• शशाङ्कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशाङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• श्रीधरः: bearer of Śrī (Vishnu)
• श्रीधरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + धर (धृ धातु, कृत्-प्रत्ययः) → श्रीधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (श्रियाः धरः)

• कान्तिः: splendour, radiance
• कान्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रीः: Śrī, fortune
• श्रीः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• अनपायिनी: not departing, inseparable
• अनपायिनी: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन-अपायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• धृतिः: steadfastness
• धृतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लक्ष्मीः: Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्मीः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जगच्चेष्टा: activity of the world
• जगच्चेष्टा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + चेष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः चेष्टा)

• वायुः: wind
• वायुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वत्रगः: all-pervading, going everywhere
• सर्वत्रगः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय) + ग (गम् धातु, कृत्) → सर्वत्रग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; अव्ययीभाव (सर्वत्र गः)

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Identification of Vishnu as the all-pervading reality and the locus of Śrī (Lakṣmī) and cosmic functions

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All cosmic powers—luminaries, fortune, steadfastness, motion, and vital air—are to be understood as forms/functions of Hari, in whom Śrī ever abides.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate daily phenomena (moonlight, breath, inner steadiness) as manifestations of the Lord to steady remembrance (smaraṇa) and gratitude.

Vishishtadvaita: Vishnu is both transcendent Lord and immanent controller (antaryāmin) whose śakti and auspicious attributes pervade the jagat without negating real plurality.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Lakshmi Presence: Sri (fortune)

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari)
• Lakshmi (Śrī)
• Chandra (the Moon)
• Vayu

FAQs

What is the significance of Śrī (Lakṣmī) being called anapāyinī (never-departing) in the Vishnu Purana?

It asserts Śrī’s inseparability from Vishnu—prosperity, grace, and sovereignty are not external gifts but intrinsic to Hari’s nature.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Vishnu’s presence in cosmic functions like wind and lunar power?

By identifying Vishnu with Vāyu, the Moon, and the world’s activity, Parāśara teaches that all natural and divine forces operate as expressions of the one Supreme Lord.

What is the theological importance of calling Vishnu jagacceṣṭā (the activity of the universe)?

It frames Vishnu not only as transcendent but also as the immanent governor whose power animates and sustains all motion, life, and order—central to Vaishnava metaphysics.