Shloka 26

Devanagari script

संभक्ष्य सर्वभूतानि देवादीन्य् अविशेषतः नृत्यत्य् अन्ते च यद् रूपं तस्मै रुद्रात्मने नमः

Transliteration

saṃbhakṣya sarvabhūtāni devādīny aviśeṣataḥ nṛtyaty ante ca yad rūpaṃ tasmai rudrātmane namaḥ

Translation

Salutations to Your Rudra-natured form which, at the end of time, consumes all beings without distinction—even the gods—and then dances in the final dissolution.

Word by Word

• संभक्ष्य: having devoured completely
• संभक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive); (Having completely devoured)

• सर्वभूतानि: all beings
• सर्वभूतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (Neuter, Accusative Plural)

• देवादीनि: gods and others
• देवादीनि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (Neuter, Accusative Plural)

• अविशेषतः: without distinction
• अविशेषतः: Avyaya-sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अ (नञ्) + विशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण); तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त; (adverb: without distinction)

• नृत्यति: dances
• नृत्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; (Present, 3rd person singular)

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; (Masculine, Locative Singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Visheshana (Relative/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma/Pratipadyam (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular)

• तस्मै: to that (form)
• तस्मै: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; (Dative Singular)

• रुद्रात्मने: to the Rudra-natured one
• रुद्रात्मने: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; (Masculine, Dative Singular)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Prayojaka/Formula (Salutation formula)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात); दत्तिवाचक-प्रयोगः (used with dative)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya in a hymn-like description within the creation/dissolution narrative)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The Lord’s Rudra-function in final dissolution—consuming even gods and performing the cosmic dance

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Kalpa

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme encompasses the Rudra-principle: dissolution is His function, equalizing all beings at the end, followed by the dance of cosmic reabsorption.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Replace sectarian rivalry with integrated theism: see diverse deities/functions as coordinated powers under the Supreme, and cultivate humility before time.

Vishishtadvaita: Rudra is a functional mode/office under Vishnu’s lordship; the Supreme remains the inner ruler while delegating cosmic roles.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Devas (gods)
• All beings (sarvabhūtāni)

FAQs

What is the significance of Rudra’s dance at the end of time in the Vishnu Purana?

It signifies pralaya—the final dissolution—where the dissolving power (Rudra-tattva) consumes all beings without exception and brings the cosmos to rest before renewal.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the idea of “without distinction, even the gods” here?

Parāśara emphasizes the universality of dissolution: at pralaya, no category—mortal or divine—stands outside cosmic law, underscoring the absolute sovereignty of the divine process.

What is the theological importance of the Lord in this context for Vaishnava philosophy?

The verse presents dissolution as an aspect of supreme governance: even the Rudra-function operates under the ultimate reality that orders creation, maintenance, and dissolution in Vishnu Purana cosmology.