Shloka 13

ऋभु-निदाघ-संवादः — अधः-ऊर्ध्व-दृष्टान्तेन अद्वैतबोधः (राजा-गज-उपमा) तथा मोक्षफलश्रुति

Devanagari script

उपर्य् अहं यथा राजा त्वम् अधः कुञ्जरो यथा अवबोधाय ते ब्रह्मन् दृष्टान्तो दर्शितो मया

Transliteration

upary ahaṃ yathā rājā tvam adhaḥ kuñjaro yathā avabodhāya te brahman dṛṣṭānto darśito mayā

Translation

“As I stand above like a king, so you are below like an elephant. O Brahman, I have shown you this illustration so that you may understand clearly.”

Word by Word

• उपरि: above
• उपरि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: दिशावाचक-अव्यय (adverb): 'above'

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय: 'as'

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• अधः: below
• अधः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: दिशावाचक-अव्यय (adverb): 'below'

• कुञ्जरः: elephant
• कुञ्जरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुञ्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय: 'as'

• अवबोधाय: for understanding
• अवबोधाय: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवबोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (dative of purpose): 'for understanding'

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन; 'to you/for you'

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case), एकवचन

• दृष्टान्तः: example, illustration
• दृष्टान्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दर्शितः: has been shown
• दर्शितः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) → दर्शित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'shown'

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching within the Parāśara–Maitreya dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: ‘Above’ and ‘below’ are relational predicates dependent on standpoint and convention, not absolute truths.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Recognize how perspective shapes interpretation; verify claims by shifting viewpoint and context.

Vishishtadvaita: Relational order (tāratamya) is real but intelligible only with correct standpoint—ultimately grounded in the supreme Lord’s ordering, not egoic comparison.

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• King (as analogy)
• Elephant (as analogy)

FAQs

What is the significance of using a king-and-elephant analogy in the Vishnu Purana?

It functions as a dṛṣṭānta—an illustrative comparison—to make an abstract point about precedence and proper placement immediately graspable.

How does Sage Parāśara explain concepts to Maitreya in this passage?

He teaches by concrete, everyday imagery (hierarchy of king above, elephant below), explicitly stating that the example is given “for your understanding.”

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s broader teaching frames all order and rightful hierarchy as grounded in the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—who upholds dharma and cosmic governance.