Shloka 7

Devanagari script

तदाधारं जगच् चेदं सदेवासुरमानुषम्

Transliteration

tadādhāraṃ jagac cedaṃ sadevāsuramānuṣam

Translation

Upon Him this entire universe is upheld—together with the gods, the asuras, and humankind—for all beings rest in Him as their very support.

Word by Word

• तदाधारम्: having that as its support
• तदाधारम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः ‘तस्य आधारः’ इति (having that as support)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (Apposition to जगत्/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सदेवासुरमानुषम्: together with gods, asuras, and humans
• सदेवासुरमानुषम्: Karta (Qualifier of जगत्/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक) + मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘स-’ उपपदपूर्वकः (with) + समाहारार्थक-समास (collective sense): ‘देव-असुर-मानुषैः सहितम्’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The ultimate support (ādhāra) of the universe beyond intermediate cosmic structures.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All classes of beings—devas, asuras, and humans—along with the whole jagat, rest upon the Supreme as their sustaining ground.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: In adversity or pride, remember universal dependence on the divine support; practice surrender (śaraṇāgati) and ethical restraint.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms Viṣṇu as the substantive support and inner ruler of a real plurality of beings (cit and acit) without collapsing their distinctness.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas
• Asuras
• Humans

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu being called the support (ādhāra) of the universe in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse states that all realms and beings—gods, asuras, and humans—depend upon Vishnu as their sustaining ground, affirming His supreme sovereignty over the entire cosmos.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the unity of different beings like devas, asuras, and humans?

By grouping them together as resting on the same ādhāra, Parāśara presents a single cosmic order in which all categories of life are upheld by Vishnu, even when their natures and actions differ.

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

Vishnu is not merely a powerful deity within the universe; He is portrayed as the foundational support of existence itself, the Supreme Reality upon which the world stands.