Shloka 48

दुर्वासाशापः, क्षीरसागरमन्थनम्, श्रीः (लक्ष्मी) उद्भवः तथा श्रीस्तुतिः

Devanagari script

कारणं कारणस्यापि तस्य कारणकारणम् तत्कारणानां हेतुं तं प्रणतो ऽस्मि सुरेश्वरम्

Transliteration

kāraṇaṃ kāraṇasyāpi tasya kāraṇakāraṇam tatkāraṇānāṃ hetuṃ taṃ praṇato 'smi sureśvaram

Translation

I bow to the Lord of the gods—He who is the cause even of all causes, the cause of that cause as well, the primal reason behind those causes, the ultimate source of every chain of causation.

Word by Word

• कारणम्: the cause
• कारणम्: Karma (Object/complement/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; (तं ... कारणम्) समनाधिकरण-रूपेण

• कारणस्य: of the cause
• कारणस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—अपि (also/even)

• तस्य: of that (one)
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• कारणकारणम्: the cause of the cause
• कारणकारणम्: Karma (Object/complement/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कारणस्य कारणम्)

• तत्कारणानाम्: of those causes
• तत्कारणानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तेषां कारणानाम्)

• हेतुम्: the reason / source
• हेतुम्: Karma (Object/complement/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• प्रणतः: bowed down
• प्रणतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु) → प्रणत (क्त, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लकारः—लट् (वर्तमान), पुरुषः—उत्तम, वचनम्—एकवचनम्

• सुरेश्वरम्: the Lord of the gods
• सुरेश्वरम्: Karma (Object in apposition/कर्म-समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सुराणाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya in a hymnic, doctrinal passage)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Identification of the Supreme as sureśvara and the ultimate hetu behind all causes

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord of the gods is the foundational cause behind all causalities—the ultimate hetu from which every explanatory chain derives.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: In analysis and debate, avoid endless regress by grounding understanding in the Supreme; in devotion, offer the fruits of inquiry as worship.

Vishishtadvaita: Sureśvara language preserves personal sovereignty while teaching ultimate causality—Brahman is not a mere abstract principle but the supreme Person.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of calling Vishnu the “cause of the cause” in the Vishnu Purana?

It asserts Vishnu as the ultimate foundation behind every causal chain—beyond all secondary creators and cosmic principles—so that even “causes” derive their power from Him.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Supreme Principle through causation language?

Parāśara frames Vishnu as the source, sustainer, and deepest ground of all originating factors, presenting a hierarchy where every proximate cause depends on the Supreme Cause.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu being addressed as sureśvara here?

It places Vishnu above the devas as their sovereign, reinforcing Vaishnava doctrine that divine governance and cosmic order ultimately rest in Vishnu alone.