Shloka 115

दुर्वासाशापः, क्षीरसागरमन्थनम्, श्रीः (लक्ष्मी) उद्भवः तथा श्रीस्तुतिः

Devanagari script

नमस्ये सर्वलोकानां जननीम् अब्जसंभवाम् श्रियम् उन्निद्रपद्माक्षीं विष्णुवक्षःस्थलस्थिताम्

Transliteration

namasye sarvalokānāṃ jananīm abjasaṃbhavām śriyam unnidrapadmākṣīṃ viṣṇuvakṣaḥsthalasthitām

Translation

I bow to Śrī—the Mother of all worlds, lotus-born, lotus-eyed with ever-wakeful gaze, who abides upon the chest of Lord Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• नमस्ये: I bow / I pay homage
• नमस्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (धातु √नम्)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्; धातु √नम् + सन् (desiderative) → नमस्यति

• सर्वलोकानाम्: of all worlds
• सर्वलोकानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—सर्वे लोकाः (all worlds)

• जननीम्: mother
• जननीम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अब्जसंभवाम्: lotus-born
• अब्जसंभवाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अब्ज + सम्भवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—अब्जात् सम्भवा (born from the lotus)

• श्रियम्: Śrī (Lakṣmī), prosperity
• श्रियम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उन्निद्रपद्माक्षीम्: with fully-open lotus-like eyes
• उन्निद्रपद्माक्षीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्निद्र + पद्म + अक्षी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—उन्निद्रे पद्मे इव अक्षिणी यस्याः (having eyes like fully-open lotuses)

• विष्णुवक्षःस्थलस्थिताम्: dwelling on Viṣṇu’s chest
• विष्णुवक्षःस्थलस्थिताम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु + वक्षःस्थल + स्थिता (कृदन्त; √स्था)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कृदन्तः—स्थिता (क्त/क्तवतु-सम्भव past participle sense); समासः—विष्णोः वक्षःस्थले स्थिता (situated on Viṣṇu’s chest)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; a devotional salutation within the discourse)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Invocation and praise of Śrī as Viṣṇu’s inseparable power before cosmological teaching

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: reverential

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrī is praised as the universal Mother and inseparable consort residing on Viṣṇu’s chest, making devotion naturally approach the Lord through her grace.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Begin worship with śaraṇāgati to Śrī as compassionate mediator and cultivate steady, wakeful remembrance of the Lord.

Vishishtadvaita: Śrī is inseparably united with Nārāyaṇa and functions as the divine śakti through whom grace and auspiciousness flow to the jīvas.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Sri (fortune)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shri (Lakshmi)

FAQs

What is the significance of Śrī (Lakṣmī) being called the mother of all worlds in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Śrī as the universal source of auspiciousness and nurturing prosperity that sustains the worlds, functioning inseparably with Viṣṇu’s cosmic rule.

How does Sage Parāśara present the relationship between Viṣṇu and Śrī here?

By stating she resides on Viṣṇu’s chest, Parāśara emphasizes their inseparability—Śrī is not independent of Viṣṇu but eternally associated with him as his divine splendor and beneficence.

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

Viṣṇu is implied as the supreme locus of cosmic sovereignty, with Śrī abiding in him—signaling that ultimate order, protection, and prosperity flow from the Supreme Reality centered in Viṣṇu.