Shloka 118

दुर्वासाशापः, क्षीरसागरमन्थनम्, श्रीः (लक्ष्मी) उद्भवः तथा श्रीस्तुतिः

Devanagari script

आन्वीक्षिकी त्रयी वार्ता दण्डनीतिस् त्वम् एव च सौम्यासौम्यैर् जगद् रूपैस् त्वयैतद् देवि पूरितम्

Transliteration

ānvīkṣikī trayī vārtā daṇḍanītis tvam eva ca saumyāsaumyair jagad rūpais tvayaitad devi pūritam

Translation

You alone are ānvīkṣikī, the science of inquiry and discernment; you are the trayī, the threefold Veda; you are vārttā, the practical arts of livelihood and exchange; and you are also daṇḍanīti, the science of governance and chastisement. O Goddess, by your gentle and by your awe-inspiring forms, this entire universe is pervaded and filled.

Word by Word

• आन्वीक्षिकी: logic/inquiry (ānvīkṣikī)
• आन्वीक्षिकी: Predicate nominal (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आन्वीक्षिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्रयी: the Vedic triad (three Vedas)
• त्रयी: Predicate nominal (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वार्ता: worldly livelihood/commerce (vārttā)
• वार्ता: Predicate nominal (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दण्डनीतिः: statecraft, polity
• दण्डनीतिः: Predicate nominal (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्डनीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—दण्डस्य नीतिः (policy of punishment/statecraft)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एव: indeed, alone
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सौम्यासौम्यैः: by gentle and harsh
• सौम्यासौम्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य + असौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (जगद्-रूपैः इति विशेष्येण), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः—सौम्याश्च असौम्याश्च (gentle and non-gentle)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• रूपैः: with forms
• रूपैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartr-karana (Agent/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• एतत्: this (universe)
• एतत्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र—द्वितीया (object)

• देवि: O Goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• पूरितम्: filled, pervaded
• पूरितम्: Kriya (Passive predicate/कर्मणि क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूरित (कृदन्त; √पॄ/√पूर्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थः—‘(एतत्) पूरितम्’ (has been filled)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya; verse voiced as a laudatory address to the Devi/Śakti as the all-pervading power of the Supreme)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Śrī as the all-pervading power behind the four human pursuits/knowledges and the universe’s gentle and terrible forms

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrī is identified with inquiry, Vedic revelation, economic arts, and governance, and she pervades the cosmos through benign and formidable manifestations—present as both nurture and sovereignty.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Integrate discernment (ānvīkṣikī) with dharmic livelihood and ethical governance; recognize power as sacred and accountable.

Vishishtadvaita: Immanence of divine śakti within all domains of human life and cosmic forms, while remaining inseparable from the transcendent Lord (qualified non-dual pervasion).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Sri (fortune)

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Divine Goddess/Śakti)
• Vedas (Trayī)
• Anvīkṣikī (philosophical inquiry)
• Daṇḍanīti (political science)
• Vārttā (economics/livelihood)

FAQs

What is the significance of ānvīkṣikī, trayī, vārttā, and daṇḍanīti in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents all major human knowledges—philosophy, Vedic revelation, economy, and governance—as originating in and sustained by the Divine, showing that cosmic order includes both contemplation and social administration.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine sovereignty in this verse?

By stating that the Goddess is not merely a deity among others but the very presence behind every discipline and function, and that the world is filled by her mild and formidable manifestations—indicating all forces of creation, maintenance, and restraint are sacred.

What is the theological importance of the Divine (Vishnu/Śakti) in this context?

The verse emphasizes immanence: the Supreme Reality is present as the power behind sacred knowledge (Veda), rational inquiry, material prosperity, and lawful rule—supporting a Vishnu Purana vision where divinity pervades both spiritual and worldly order.