Shloka 50

भू-मण्डलसंक्षेपवर्णनम् — सप्तद्वीप-सप्तसमुद्राः, मेरु-मानम्, गङ्गावतरणम्, देववन-सरोवर-लोकपालपुर्यः

Devanagari script

मत्स्यरूपश् च गोविन्दः कुरुष्व् आस्ते जनार्दनः विश्वरूपेण सर्वत्र सर्वः सर्वेश्वरो हरिः

Transliteration

matsyarūpaś ca govindaḥ kuruṣv āste janārdanaḥ viśvarūpeṇa sarvatra sarvaḥ sarveśvaro hariḥ

Translation

Govinda, in the form of Matsya, abides even in the Kuru realm; Janārdana is present there as well. As the all-pervading Universal Form, Hari—the Lord of all—fills every place as the very Self of all.

Word by Word

• मत्स्यरूपः: (as) the fish-form
• मत्स्यरूपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य-रूप (प्रातिपदिक; मत्स्य + रूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मत्स्यस्य रूपम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• गोविन्दः: Govinda
• गोविन्दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• कुरुषु: among/in the Kurus
• कुरुषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्; जनपद-नाम

• आस्ते: abides/dwells
• आस्ते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana
• जनार्दनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• विश्वरूपेण: by/with the universal form
• विश्वरूपेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व-रूप (प्रातिपदिक; विश्व + रूप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (विश्वं रूपं यस्य/विश्व-रूप)

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place)

• सर्वः: the all (all-pervading one)
• सर्वः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• सर्वेश्वरः: Lord of all
• सर्वेश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषाम् ईश्वरः)

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the Lord pervades the varṣas and all places as viśvarūpa and as specific avatāra-forms.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Varshas (regions)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Matsya

Purpose: He manifests as Matsya to safeguard the cosmic order and to signify His all-pervading protection across realms.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Universal sovereignty and protection—Hari as the all-pervading Lord and Self of all.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hari pervades all as viśvarūpa and as the very Self (ātman) of all beings, making every place a locus of worship.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Practice remembrance (smaraṇa) of the Lord in all contexts—seeing every encounter as within the viśvarūpa.

Vishishtadvaita: The universe is the Lord’s body (śarīra), and He is its indwelling ruler (antaryāmin), enabling devotion without denying real plurality.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari (name)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peace)

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Govinda
• Matsya
• Kurus

FAQs

What is the significance of Matsya (the Fish form) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse uses Matsya as one example of Vishnu’s embodied manifestation, showing that the Supreme Lord appears in specific forms while simultaneously remaining all-pervading as the Universal Form.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Vishnu’s presence in the world through this verse?

Parāśara presents Vishnu as present in particular places (“among the Kurus”) and also as present everywhere through the viśvarūpa—affirming both immanence (nearness) and transcendence (supreme lordship).

What is the theological importance of calling Hari “Sarveśvara” here?

“Sarveśvara” asserts Vishnu’s absolute sovereignty: all beings and realms fall within His rule and being, aligning with Vaishnava philosophy where the Supreme Reality is personal yet universally pervasive.