Shloka 45

मन्वन्तर-क्रमः (अतीत-सप्तमन्वन्तराः) तथा मन्वन्तरावताराः

Devanagari script

यस्माद् विष्टम् इदं सर्वं तस्य शक्त्या महात्मनः तस्मात् स प्रोच्यते विष्णुर् विशेर् धातोः प्रवेशनात्

Transliteration

yasmād viṣṭam idaṃ sarvaṃ tasya śaktyā mahātmanaḥ tasmāt sa procyate viṣṇur viśer dhātoḥ praveśanāt

Translation

Because this entire universe is pervaded—entered into—by the power of that Great Soul, He is therefore called “Viṣṇu”, from the root viś, “to enter”, by His all-pervading presence.

Word by Word

• यस्मात्: because of which/from whom
• यस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतु-अर्थे (ablative of cause)

• विष्टम्: entered/pervaded
• विष्टम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √viś (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (entered/pervaded)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all/entire
• सर्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् इदम्

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• शक्त्या: by (his) power
• शक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (means)

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (one)
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; कर्मधारय; तस्य इति सम्बन्धेन विशेषण (of the great-souled one)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Sambandha (Inference/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति निपातवत् (ablative used adverbially: 'therefore')

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• प्रोच्यते: is called
• प्रोच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √vac (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नाम (predicate nominative)

• विशेः: of the root √viś
• विशेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √viś (धातु)
• Form: धातोः षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; धातु-निर्देशे षष्ठी (genitive of the root)

• धातोः: of the verbal root
• धातोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; अप्पोजिशन (of the verbal root)

• प्रवेशनात्: from entering/pervasion
• प्रवेशनात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praveśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतु-अर्थे (ablative of cause: 'from/because of entering')

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Etymology and theological meaning of the name ‘Viṣṇu’ as the all-pervading indweller.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu is so named because, by His śakti, He ‘enters’ and pervades all existence as its indwelling controller and sustaining cause.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Practice seeing the divine presence within all beings and situations; cultivate reverence, non-harm, and steady remembrance (smaraṇa).

Vishishtadvaita: Explicit antaryāmin-pervasion supports Viśiṣṭādvaita: the world and souls are real modes (prakāra) of Brahman, pervaded and governed by Him.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of the name “Vishnu” in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse defines “Viṣṇu” as the One who enters and pervades all existence; His name is grounded in His all-pervasive sovereignty over the cosmos.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the concept of divine pervasion?

Parāśara states that the universe is ‘entered’ by the Lord’s śakti—indicating that creation is sustained from within by the Supreme, not merely governed from afar.

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

Viṣṇu is presented as the Supreme Reality whose immanence (pervading all) and supremacy (source of power) establish Him as the ultimate ground of cosmology and devotion.