Shloka 122

सूर्यरथ-कालचक्र-आयनविभागः, संध्योपासनम्, देवयान-पितृयानम्, विष्णुपद-गङ्गावतरणम्

Devanagari script

यतः सा पावनायालं त्रयाणां जगताम् अपि समुद्भूता परं तत् तु तृतीयं भगवत्पदम्

Transliteration

yataḥ sā pāvanāyālaṃ trayāṇāṃ jagatām api samudbhūtā paraṃ tat tu tṛtīyaṃ bhagavatpadam

Translation

From Him arises that supremely purifying power, able to cleanse even the three worlds; yet beyond it stands the third, transcendent station—the Lord’s own abode, the Bhagavat-pada.

Word by Word

• यतः: from which; because
• यतः: Hetu/Source marker (हेतु/अपादान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय/यद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थ/अपादानार्थ (from which; because)

• सा: she (Ganga)
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• पावना: purifying
• पावना: Modifier of Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; सा-विशेषण

• अलम्: fully; sufficiently
• अलम्: Adverbial modifier (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पर्याप्त्यर्थ (enough; fully)

• त्रयाणाम्: of the three
• त्रयाणाम्: Modifier of Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; जगताम्-विशेषण (numeral adjective)

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Modifier (अव्यय-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अवधानार्थ (also/even)

• समुद्भूता: arisen; originated
• समुद्भूता: Predicate adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+उद्+भू (धातु) + समुद्भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; सा-विशेषण

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Modifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; भगवत्पदम्-विशेषण

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta/Predicate subject (निर्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; निर्देशार्थ (demonstrative)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थ (but; indeed)

• तृतीयम्: third
• तृतीयम्: Modifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; भगवत्पदम्-विशेषण (ordinal)

• भगवत्पदम्: the Lord’s abode/footstep (Vishnu’s supreme station)
• भगवत्पदम्: Karta/Predicate (वाक्य-प्रधानपदम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भगवतः पदम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Source of Gaṅgā’s sanctity and the hierarchy of purifiers culminating in Bhagavat-pada.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All purificatory power (even that cleansing the three worlds) derives from the Lord, and the highest goal is His own transcendent abode.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Treat sacred means (tīrtha, mantra, vows) as conduits of the Lord’s grace while orienting life toward the ultimate telos: surrender and Godward living.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms the Lord as the fountainhead of all śakti (including tīrtha-śuddhi) and posits His abode as the supreme puruṣārtha, consistent with personal, attribute-full Brahman.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• The three worlds (trailokya)
• Bhagavat-pada (the Lord’s supreme abode)

FAQs

What is the significance of the “three worlds” in this Vishnu Purana verse?

The verse highlights that even the entire trailokya (three worlds) can be purified by what proceeds from Vishnu, emphasizing His sovereignty over all cosmic realms.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the idea of a reality beyond cosmic purification?

He indicates a hierarchy: a purifying principle arises from the Lord and affects the worlds, but beyond it is the “third” and highest truth—Bhagavat-pada, the Lord’s own transcendent abode.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is presented as both the source of sanctifying power within creation and the Supreme Reality beyond creation—His own abode being the ultimate goal and highest station.