Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

जलधिर् द्विज गोविन्दस् तद्वेला श्रीर् महामते लक्ष्मीस्वरूपम् इन्द्राणी देवेन्द्रो मधुसूदनः

Transliteration

jaladhir dvija govindas tadvelā śrīr mahāmate lakṣmīsvarūpam indrāṇī devendro madhusūdanaḥ

Translation

O twice-born one, Govinda is the ocean; and, O great-minded sage, its shoreline is Śrī herself. Indrāṇī is of the very nature of Lakṣmī, and the lord of the gods is Madhusūdana.

Word by Word

• जलधिः: ocean
• जलधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जलस्य धिः/निधिः)

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• गोविन्दः: Govinda
• गोविन्दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + विन्द (विद् धातु, कृत्) → गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गोः विन्दः/पालकः इति)

• तद्वेला: that time/shoreline (contextual: that boundary/time)
• तद्वेला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + वेला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे (सा वेला)

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

• महामते: O great-minded one
• महामते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् मतिः यस्य)

• लक्ष्मीस्वरूपम्: the form of Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्मीस्वरूपम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लक्ष्म्याः स्वरूपम्)

• इन्द्राणी: Indrāṇī
• इन्द्राणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्राणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवेन्द्रः: lord of the gods (Indra)
• देवेन्द्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानाम् इन्द्रः)

• मधुसूदनः: slayer of Madhu (Vishnu)
• मधुसूदनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु + सूदन (सूद् धातु, कृत्) → मधुसूदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मधोः सूदनः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How deities and cosmic features are grounded in Govinda and Śrī, with even Indra and Indrāṇī understood through Lakṣmī-tattva

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The ocean and its boundary, and the lordship of the devas, are not independent realities but are grounded in Govinda, with Śrī as inseparable auspicious potency and pattern of sovereignty.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: When encountering power (authority) or vastness (sea), redirect admiration into worship of Govinda as the source and limit (maryādā) of all powers.

Vishishtadvaita: Śrī is inseparable from Nārāyaṇa (anapāyinī), functioning as His auspicious śakti, while the world’s forms (like ocean/shore) are real modes dependent on Him.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Lakshmi Presence: Sri (fortune)

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Govinda, Madhusudana)
• Lakshmi (Sri)
• Indra
• Indrani (Saci)
• Ocean (Jaladhi)
• Shoreline (Vela)

FAQs

What is the significance of identifying Vishnu with the ocean in the Vishnu Purana?

It presents Vishnu as the vast sustaining ground of the cosmos—immeasurable, all-supporting, and the underlying reality in which all worlds and beings arise and abide.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Śrī (Lakṣmī) in this context?

By calling the shoreline (limit/order) ‘Śrī’, Parāśara frames Lakṣmī as Vishnu’s auspicious power that marks, stabilizes, and beautifies cosmic order rather than being separate from him.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here with respect to Indra and Indrāṇī?

Indra and Indrāṇī are shown as subordinate divine offices whose splendor and authority ultimately rest in Vishnu, reinforcing Vishnu’s supremacy and the dependent status of all devas.