Shloka 24

शिशुमार-रूपं, ध्रुवबन्धनम्, वृष्टिचक्र-पालनम्, नारायणाधारत्वम्

Devanagari script

हृदि नारायणस् तस्य शिशुमारस्य संस्थितः बिभर्ता सर्वभूतानाम् आदिभूतः सनातनः

Transliteration

hṛdi nārāyaṇas tasya śiśumārasya saṃsthitaḥ bibhartā sarvabhūtānām ādibhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ

Translation

In the very heart of that Śiśumāra is Nārāyaṇa enthroned—the eternal, primeval source, who upholds all beings and bears the universe within His sovereign order.

Word by Word

• हृदि: in (the) heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद्/हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शिशुमारस्य: of Śiśumāra
• शिशुमारस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• संस्थितः: situated, established
• संस्थितः: Karta (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√स्था (धातु) → संस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषणम् (नारायणः)

• बिभर्ता: the sustainer, bearer
• बिभर्ता: Karta (Appositional agent/समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √भृ (धातु) → बिभर्तृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्त (agent noun); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नारायणस्य विशेषणम्

• सर्वभूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वभूतानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: कर्मधारय (सर्वाणि भूतानि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• आदिभूतः: the primordial being; original source
• आदिभूतः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि + भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (आदिः भूतो यः); भूत (PPP of √भू) प्रयुक्तः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (नारायणः)

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (नारायणः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Where Nārāyaṇa is situated in the cosmic form (Śiśumāra) and how He upholds all beings as the primeval eternal source

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: reverent and revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nārāyaṇa abides in the heart of the cosmic Śiśumāra as the eternal primeval upholder of all beings, establishing Him as inner ruler and universal support.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Practice heart-centered remembrance (smaraṇa) of Nārāyaṇa as the indwelling support behind every system—body, society, and cosmos.

Vishishtadvaita: Strong antaryāmin doctrine: the Lord is immanent within the cosmos (as its ‘heart’) while remaining its transcendent bearer, aligning with qualified non-dualism.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Shishumara

FAQs

What is the significance of the Śiśumāra in the Vishnu Purana?

It is a symbolic cosmic form used to describe the ordered arrangement of the heavens, with Nārāyaṇa affirmed as the indwelling center and sustaining power.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Supreme Lord’s position in the cosmos here?

He states that Nārāyaṇa is established in the “heart” of the cosmic formation, indicating that the universe is structured and upheld from within by the eternal first principle.

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

Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa) is presented as the primordial and eternal sustainer of all beings, emphasizing His supremacy and immanence within cosmic order.