Shloka 39

लोकसंस्थानम्, ग्रहदूरी-प्रमाणम्, ब्रह्माण्डावरणानि, विष्णोः जगत्कारणत्वम्

Devanagari script

तथा कर्मस्व् अनेकेषु देवाद्याः समवस्थिताः विष्णुशक्तिं समासाद्य प्ररोहम् उपयान्ति वै

Transliteration

tathā karmasv anekeṣu devādyāḥ samavasthitāḥ viṣṇuśaktiṃ samāsādya praroham upayānti vai

Translation

So too, amid the countless modes of action, the gods and other beings stand established; and, attaining the śakti of Viṣṇu, they surely rise onward—growing and advancing in their respective functions.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• कर्मसु: in actions/rites
• कर्मसु: Adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• अनेकेषु: in many (kinds)
• अनेकेषु: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्मसु)

• देव-आद्याः: the gods and others (beginning with gods)
• देव-आद्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/निर्धारणार्थः (देवाः आद्याः येषां ते)

• समवस्थिताः: situated/established
• समवस्थिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of देव-आद्याः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ava-sthā (धातु) → samavasthita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• विष्णु-शक्तिम्: Vishnu’s power
• विष्णु-शक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः शक्तिः)

• समासाद्य: having attained/approached
• समासाद्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-ā-sad (धातु) → samāsādya (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप कृदन्त (absolutive/gerund)

• प्ररोहम्: growth, rise, development
• प्ररोहम्: Gati-karman (Goal as object/गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praroha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उपयान्ति: they attain/go to
• उपयान्ति: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-yā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed, surely
• वै: Sambandha-bodhaka/Emphasis (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle; emphatic)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Sacred geography and the ordering of beings by karma and divine power within Bharata-varsha’s wider cosmographic account

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All gods and beings, situated in diverse karmic roles, progress only by attaining and being empowered by Viṣṇu-śakti.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat abilities and outcomes as dependent on the Lord’s empowering presence; perform one’s duties without egoism, as service.

Vishishtadvaita: Divine śakti as the inner enabler: beings act within their karmic stations, yet their efficacy is grounded in Viṣṇu’s indwelling support.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu’s śakti in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse states that even devas and other beings can function and “rise” in their roles only by attaining Viṣṇu’s śakti, emphasizing Vishnu as the ultimate enabling power behind all activity.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the relationship between karma and divine power?

Parāśara frames karma as effective not merely by individual agency: within many kinds of actions, beings remain established and succeed by access to Vishnu’s power, showing divine sovereignty operating through action.

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

Vishnu is presented as the supreme source of potency and order—without His śakti, even celestial beings cannot advance—supporting a Vaishnava view of universal dependence on the Lord.