Shloka 29

लोकसंस्थानम्, ग्रहदूरी-प्रमाणम्, ब्रह्माण्डावरणानि, विष्णोः जगत्कारणत्वम्

Devanagari script

प्रधानं च पुमांश् चैव सर्वभूतात्मभूतया विष्णुशक्त्या महाबुद्धे वृतौ संश्रयधर्मिणौ

Transliteration

pradhānaṃ ca pumāṃś caiva sarvabhūtātmabhūtayā viṣṇuśaktyā mahābuddhe vṛtau saṃśrayadharmiṇau

Translation

O great-minded one, by the Śakti of Viṣṇu—who has become the very Self within all beings—both Pradhāna and Puruṣa are encompassed; thus they abide by nature as dependent realities, taking refuge in Him.

Word by Word

• प्रधानम्: Pradhāna (primordial matter)
• प्रधानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular (neuter)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुमान्: Puruṣa (the person/spirit)
• पुमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस्/पुमान् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular (masculine)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• सर्वभूतात्मभूतया: by (her) being the self of all beings
• सर्वभूतात्मभूतया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-भूत-आत्म-भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular (feminine); समासः: सर्वभूतानाम् आत्मा (आत्मभूतः) इति

• विष्णुशक्त्या: by Viṣṇu’s power (Śakti)
• विष्णुशक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु-शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular (feminine); समासः: विष्णोः शक्तिः

• महाबुद्धे: O great-minded one
• महाबुद्धे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; vocative singular; समासः: महती बुद्धिर्यस्य (सम्बोधन-प्रयोगः)

• वृतौ: covered/enveloped (the two)
• वृतौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत (वृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन; past passive participle; nominative dual masculine

• संश्रयधर्मिणौ: having the nature of mutual dependence
• संश्रयधर्मिणौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संश्रय-धर्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), द्विवचन; nominative dual masculine; समासः: संश्रयः धर्मो यस्य (धर्मिन्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Metaphysical relation of Pradhāna and Pumān to Viṣṇu; how both depend on Him as inner Self of all beings

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pradhāna and Puruṣa, though posited as fundamental principles, subsist only through Viṣṇu’s śakti, since He is the indwelling Self of all beings and their ultimate refuge.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate the Lord as antaryāmin in oneself and others, and cultivate surrender (śaraṇāgati) rather than self-sufficiency.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms Viṣṇu as both transcendent ground and immanent controller (antaryāmin), with all principles existing in dependence (śeṣatva) upon Him.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Pradhana (Prakriti)

FAQs

What is the significance of Pradhāna and Puruṣa being ‘encompassed’ by Vishnu’s power in the Vishnu Purana?

It presents Pradhāna (matter) and Puruṣa (conscious principle) as not independent absolutes; they function within and under Vishnu’s all-pervading sovereignty, making Him the ultimate ground of cosmology.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the concept of Vishnu as the Self of all beings here?

Parāśara describes Vishnu as ‘sarvabhūtātman’—the indwelling Self—so the cosmic principles of matter and consciousness are sustained and governed through His immanent presence and shakti.

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

Vishnu is affirmed as the Supreme Reality: both the transcendent Lord and the immanent inner Self, with all fundamental principles taking refuge in Him—supporting a devotional, theistic metaphysics central to Vaishnava thought.