Shloka 58

दुर्वासाशापः, क्षीरसागरमन्थनम्, श्रीः (लक्ष्मी) उद्भवः तथा श्रीस्तुतिः

Devanagari script

यन् नायं भगवान् ब्रह्मा जानाति परमं पदम् तं नताः स्मो जगद्धाम तव सर्वगताच्युत

Transliteration

yan nāyaṃ bhagavān brahmā jānāti paramaṃ padam taṃ natāḥ smo jagaddhāma tava sarvagatācyuta

Translation

To that supreme abode of Yours—which even Bhagavān Brahmā does not fully know—we bow. O dwelling-place of the worlds, O all-pervading Acyuta, we offer reverent homage to You.

Word by Word

• यत्: which (that)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भगवान्: the blessed lord
• भगवान्: Visheshana (Appositional/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• जानाति: knows
• जानाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पदम्: abode/state
• पदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तम्: to that (you)
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• नताः: bowed down
• नताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from नम् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• स्मः: we are
• स्मः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन (Plural); वैदिक/छान्दस रूप ‘स्मः’ = ‘स्मः/स्म’ (we are)

• जगद्धाम: O abode of the world
• जगद्धाम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: जगतः धाम (abode of the world)

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वगताच्युत: O all-pervading Acyuta
• सर्वगताच्युत: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from गम् + क्त) + अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—कर्मधारयः: सर्वगतः अच्युतः (O Acyuta who is all-pervading)

Speaker

Devotees/sages offering a stuti (hymn); relayed within Sage Parāśara’s narration to Maitreya (Vishnu Purana dialogue frame).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even Brahmā does not fully know the Lord’s supreme abode; therefore the proper response is humble prostration to the all-pervading refuge of the worlds.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Cultivate epistemic humility in spiritual life—replace pride of knowledge with reverent surrender and steady remembrance.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s paratva (supremacy) exceeds even the creator’s knowledge, yet He is sarvagata and jagaddhāma—transcendent and immanent together.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Acyuta)
• Brahma

FAQs

What is the significance of the term “paramaṃ padam” in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, “paramaṃ padam” denotes Vishnu’s highest, transcendent abode/goal—so supreme that even Brahmā does not fully comprehend it—highlighting Vishnu as the ultimate reality beyond created cosmic offices.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the supremacy of Vishnu over Brahmā in this context?

Through a hymn-like declaration: Brahmā is revered yet limited in knowledge, while Vishnu is addressed as Acyuta, sarvagata, and jagaddhāma—establishing that the creator operates within the cosmos sustained and surpassed by Vishnu.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here for Vaishnava philosophy?

The verse affirms Vishnu as the all-pervading, infallible Supreme whose ultimate state is beyond even Brahmā’s grasp—supporting the Vishnu Purana’s emphasis on Vishnu as Para Brahman and the proper object of surrender and worship.