Shloka 35

मन्वन्तर-क्रमः (अतीत-सप्तमन्वन्तराः) तथा मन्वन्तरावताराः

Devanagari script

विष्णुशक्तिर् अनौपम्या सत्त्वोद्रिक्ता स्थितौ स्थिता मन्वन्तरेष्व् अशेषेषु देवत्वेनाधितिष्ठति

Transliteration

viṣṇuśaktir anaupamyā sattvodriktā sthitau sthitā manvantareṣv aśeṣeṣu devatvenādhitiṣṭhati

Translation

The incomparable Power of Viṣṇu—predominant in sattva—abides in the state of preservation; and throughout all the Manvantara cycles without exception, she presides as divine sovereignty, sustaining the worlds.

Word by Word

• विष्णुशक्तिः: Vishnu’s power/energy
• विष्णुशक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः शक्तिः)

• अनौपम्या: incomparable
• अनौपम्या: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन् + औपम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/नकार-प्रत्ययः; विशेषणम् (शक्तिः)

• सत्त्वोद्रिक्ता: abounding in sattva
• सत्त्वोद्रिक्ता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व + उद्रिक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (उद्रिक्त = ‘उद्+रिच्’ भाव/PPP-प्रायः); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सत्त्वेन उद्रिक्ता/सत्त्व-उद्रिक्ता)

• स्थितौ: in the state of preservation
• स्थितौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• स्थिता: abiding/established
• स्थिता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शक्तिः)

• मन्वन्तरेषु: in the manvantaras
• मन्वन्तरेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्वन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रायः), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• अशेषेषु: in all (without remainder)
• अशेषेषु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (मन्वन्तरेषु)

• देवत्वेन: as divinity / by divine status
• देवत्वेन: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक-त्व प्रत्ययान्त

• अधितिष्ठति: presides over / governs
• अधितिष्ठति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How Viṣṇu’s preserving potency operates across all Manvantaras

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu’s incomparable śakti, sattva-dominant, is the sustaining principle (sthiti) that presides as divine sovereignty throughout all Manvantaras.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Cultivate sattva—clarity, compassion, steadiness—as participation in the preserving current of the Lord’s order in daily life.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms a personal Brahman with real attributes and powers: the Lord sustains the real universe through His śakti, combining transcendence with governance of the manifold.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Sri (fortune)

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas (as divine governance)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Manvantara cycle in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse states that across every Manvantara, Viṣṇu’s sustaining power continues to preside, emphasizing that cosmic order is maintained repeatedly and reliably through divine sovereignty.

How does Sage Parāśara explain preservation (sthiti) in this context?

Parāśara links preservation to Viṣṇu’s Śakti that is sattva-dominant, indicating that stability, harmony, and continuity in the universe arise from the sattvic mode of divine operation.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Viṣṇu is presented as the Supreme sustaining reality whose incomparable Śakti governs all eras; preservation is not accidental but the expression of his overarching lordship through divine power.