Shloka 49

Devanagari script

विश्वेदेवान् विश्वभूतांस् तथा विश्वपतीन् पितॄन् यक्ष्माणं च समुद्दिश्य बलिं दद्यान् नरेश्वर

Transliteration

viśvedevān viśvabhūtāṃs tathā viśvapatīn pitṝn yakṣmāṇaṃ ca samuddiśya baliṃ dadyān nareśvara

Translation

O lord of men, having duly invoked the Viśvedevas, all beings of the universe, the presiding lords of the world, the Pitṛs, and even Yakṣmā (affliction), one should offer the bali.

Word by Word

• विश्वेदेवान्: to the Viśvedevas (all gods)
• विश्वेदेवान्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचनम् — Accusative plural; कर्मधारयः (विश्वे देवाः)

• विश्वभूतान्: to all beings
• विश्वभूतान्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वभूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचनम् — Accusative plural; कर्मधारयः (विश्वानि भूतानि/विश्वे भूताः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/तुल्यताबोधकः) — indeclinable: likewise/also

• विश्वपतीन्: to the lords of the world
• विश्वपतीन्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचनम् — Accusative plural; तत्पुरुषः (विश्वस्य पतयः)

• पितॄन्: to the Pitṛs (ancestors)
• पितॄन्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचनम् — Accusative plural

• यक्ष्माणम्: to Yakṣmā (disease/consumption personified)
• यक्ष्माणम्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम् — Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधकः) — conjunction ‘and’

• समुद्दिश्य: having addressed / invoking
• समुद्दिश्य: Kriya (Prior action/क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-उद्-√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययीभावरूपेण), अव्ययकृदन्तम् — gerund/absolutive: ‘having addressed/indicated’

• बलिम्: an offering
• बलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम् — Accusative singular

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् — should give

• नरेश्वर: O lord of men (king)
• नरेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचनम् — Vocative singular; तत्पुरुषः (नराणाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya, phrased as counsel for a king/householder)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Recipients of bali: Viśvedevas, all beings, world-lords, Pitṛs, and even Yakṣmā

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual giving is universalized—offerings extend to gods, ancestors, all beings, and even forces of affliction, expressing a comprehensive ethic of reconciliation and protection.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate inclusive compassion: extend care beyond one’s circle, and respond to ‘afflictions’ (illness, misfortune) with disciplined, non-reactive benevolence and prayer.

Vishishtadvaita: The many classes of beings are honored as participants in a single divinely ordered whole, consistent with the doctrine that plurality exists as modes of the One Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvedevas
• Pitṛs
• Viśvabhūtas (all beings)
• Viśvapatis (world-lords)
• Yakṣmā (affliction personified)
• King (nareśvara)

FAQs

What is the significance of bali (ritual offering) in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, bali is a deliberate offering made after invoking universal deities, beings, and ancestors, expressing dharma as the maintenance of cosmic and social harmony rather than mere personal gain.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the inclusion of Pitṛs and universal beings in ritual duty?

By naming the Pitṛs alongside all beings and world-presiding powers, Parāśara frames ritual as a universal obligation: the householder/king sustains an interconnected cosmos through ordered remembrance and offering.

Why is Yakṣmā (affliction) mentioned in a list of recipients for invocation?

The verse treats even affliction as a force within the cosmic order; acknowledging it through prescribed offering signifies disciplined governance of life’s disruptive powers under dharma, ultimately within the sovereignty of the Supreme (Viṣṇu).