Shloka 1

Śrāddha’s Cosmic Reach and Kāla-Nirṇaya (Sacred Timings): Amāvāsyā, Nakṣatra-Yoga, Tīrtha, and Minimum Offerings

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मेन्द्ररुद्रनासत्यसूर्याग्निवसुमारुतान् विश्वेदेवान् ऋषिगणान् वयांसि मनुजान् पशून्

Transliteration

brahmendrarudranāsatyasūryāgnivasumārutān viśvedevān ṛṣigaṇān vayāṃsi manujān paśūn

Translation

Brahmā, Indra, Rudra; the Nāsatyas (Aśvins); Sūrya and Agni; the Vasus and the Maruts; the Viśvedevas; the hosts of Ṛṣis; birds, human beings, and beasts—all these are comprehended within the one all-pervading sovereignty of the Supreme, who stands as their inner ruler.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म-इन्द्र-रुद्र-नासत्य-सूर्य-अग्नि-वसु-मारुतान्: Brahmā, Indra, Rudra, the Nāsatyas, Sūrya, Agni, the Vasus, and the Maruts
• ब्रह्म-इन्द्र-रुद्र-नासत्य-सूर्य-अग्नि-वसु-मारुतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + नासत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + वसु (प्रातिपदिक) + मारुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार/इतरेतर); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• विश्वे-देवान्: the Viśvedevas (All-gods)
• विश्वे-देवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वे (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (विश्वे देवाः = the All-gods); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• ऋषि-गणान्: groups of sages
• ऋषि-गणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ऋषीणां गणाः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• वयांसि: birds
• वयांसि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मनुजान्: humans
• मनुजान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• पशून्: animals
• पशून्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Efficacy of śrāddha/tarpaṇa grounded in the doctrine of the Antaryāmin: the Supreme as inner ruler of all classes of beings

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All deities and beings are contained within the one Supreme who rules them from within as Antaryāmin, making offerings ultimately reach Him through all orders of life.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Cultivate reverence toward all beings and offer actions to the indwelling Lord, seeing worship and ethics as directed to the same inner ruler.

Vishishtadvaita: Strong Antaryāmin doctrine: the Supreme is one yet immanent in and governing the plurality of real selves and bodies (cit-acit) as His modes.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Indra
• Rudra
• Nāsatyas (Aśvins)
• Surya
• Agni
• Vasus
• Maruts
• Viśvedevas
• Rishis
• Birds
• Humans
• Animals
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of listing many gods and beings in this Vishnu Purana verse?

The verse maps the entire hierarchy—from major deities to animals—into a single theological frame: all categories are encompassed and governed by the Supreme (Vishnu) as the inner ruler.

How does Sage Parāśara explain universal order in this context?

By enumerating deva-classes and living beings together, Parāśara presents the cosmos as an integrated system where every rank of existence functions under one supreme, pervading principle.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is implied as the Supreme Reality who pervades and sustains all—gods, sages, and creatures—supporting a distinctly Vaishnava vision of divine sovereignty over the entire cosmos.