Shloka 29

Devanagari script

एतद् ब्रह्म त्रिधाभेदम् अभेदम् अपि स प्रभुः सर्वभूतेष्व् अभेदो ऽसौ भिद्यते भिन्नबुद्धिभिः

Transliteration

etad brahma tridhābhedam abhedam api sa prabhuḥ sarvabhūteṣv abhedo 'sau bhidyate bhinnabuddhibhiḥ

Translation

This very Brahman—the sovereign Lord—though spoken of as threefold, is truly undivided. He is non-different within all beings; yet minds of division imagine Him divided.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; निर्देश (demonstrative)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘एतत्’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य

• त्रिधा: threefold
• त्रिधा: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘in three ways’)

• भेदम्: difference
• भेदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• अभेदम्: non-difference
• अभेदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभेद (प्रातिपदिक; अ- + भेद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपवादार्थक (also/even)

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

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate noun)

• सर्वभूतेषु: in all beings
• सर्वभूतेषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वभूत (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + भूत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• अभेदः: non-difference
• अभेदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय

• असौ: that (very one)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक ‘अदस्’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; निर्देश (that one)

• भिद्यते: is divided/appears as divided
• भिद्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive: ‘is divided’)

• भिन्नबुद्धिभिः: by minds of differing understanding
• भिन्नबुद्धिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिन्नबुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक; भिन्न (कृदन्त) + बुद्धि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental: ‘by’)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the one Brahman can be spoken of with distinctions yet remain non-dual, and how error projects division

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahman is truly undivided and present as non-different within all beings, while perceived multiplicity arises from a dividing intellect.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Practice viveka by observing how the mind superimposes separateness, and cultivate seeing the Lord as the same indwelling reality in all.

Vishishtadvaita: Stresses the Lord’s immanence in all beings (antaryāmitva) while maintaining His sovereign unity, aligning with qualified non-dualism rather than sheer illusionism.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Prabhu (the Lord)
• Vishnu (implied as Supreme Brahman)

FAQs

What is the significance of the 'threefold distinction' of Brahman in this Vishnu Purana verse?

It acknowledges scriptural and philosophical descriptions that speak of Brahman in differentiated ways, while affirming that the Supreme Reality remains essentially one and undivided.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the appearance of difference in the One Supreme?

He states that the Lord is non-different in all beings, but appears divided due to 'bhinna-buddhi'—a mind conditioned to see separateness rather than underlying unity.

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

The verse supports the Vishnu Purana’s view that the Supreme Lord (Vishnu) is the all-pervading Brahman—one Reality present in all—while perceived multiplicity arises from limited understanding.