Shloka 1

Devanagari script

ज्ञातम् एतन् मया त्वत्तो यथा सर्वम् इदं जगत् विष्णुर् विष्णौ विष्णुतश् च न परं विद्यते ततः

Transliteration

jñātam etan mayā tvatto yathā sarvam idaṃ jagat viṣṇur viṣṇau viṣṇutaś ca na paraṃ vidyate tataḥ

Translation

From you I have understood this truth: all this universe is Vishnu—existing as Vishnu, resting in Vishnu, and proceeding from Vishnu; beyond Him there is no higher reality whatsoever.

Word by Word

• ज्ञातम्: is known, has been understood
• ज्ञातम्: Kriya (Predicate; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom./Acc.); एकवचन (Singular); भावे प्रयोगः (impersonal: 'is known')

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/content)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom./Acc.); एकवचन (Singular)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• त्वत्तः: from you
• त्वत्तः: Apadana (Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative); एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• यथा: as, in the manner that
• यथा: Sambandha (Clause linker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपमानवाचक (indeclinable: 'as, how')

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom./Acc.); एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier of जगत्/इदं)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदं (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom./Acc.); एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• जगत्: world
• जगत्: Karma (Object/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom./Acc.); एकवचन (Singular)

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन (Singular)

• विष्णौ: in Vishnu
• विष्णौ: Adhikarana (Locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन (Singular)

• विष्णुतः: from Vishnu
• विष्णुतः: Apadana (Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative); एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• परम्: higher, beyond
• परम्: Karma (Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom./Acc.); एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• विद्यते: exists, is found
• विद्यते: Kriya (Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु; आत्मनेपद)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपद; भावे/अस्त्यर्थे (exists)

• ततः: than that, from that
• ततः: Apadana (Comparison/limit: 'than that')
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative); एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

Speaker

Maitreya (addressing Sage Parashara)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: Acknowledges the siddhānta: the universe is Vishnu—of Him, in Him, and from Him; seeks further instruction thereafter

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: compassionate

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All that exists is inseparable from Vishnu—resting in Him and proceeding from Him—with nothing higher beyond Him.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Practice constant recollection (smaraṇa) that every object and self is dependent on the Lord, reducing egoistic separateness.

Vishishtadvaita: Strongly supports viśiṣṭādvaita: the world and souls are real, yet constitute the Lord’s body (śarīra) and cannot exist apart from Him.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu being described as the universe, in the universe, and from the universe in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Vishnu as identity (the cosmos is of Him), immanence (it abides in Him), and causality (it arises from Him), establishing Vishnu’s absolute sovereignty over creation.

How does Sage Parashara explain the Supreme Reality to Maitreya in this section?

Through a teacher–disciple dialogue, Parashara leads Maitreya to the conclusion that no principle surpasses Vishnu—He is simultaneously the ground, support, and origin of all manifested existence.

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

The verse asserts Vishnu as the highest truth (no para beyond Him), aligning with classical Vaishnava metaphysics where Vishnu is the supreme Lord who pervades and governs the cosmic order.