Shloka 21
यजुर्वेदशाखाः, याज्ञवल्क्य–वैशम्पायनसंवादः, सूर्यस्तुतिः
Yajurveda branches and Yājñavalkya’s solar revelation
अपहन्ति तमो यश् च जगतो ऽस्य जगत्पतिः सत्त्वधामधरो देवो नमस् तस्मै विवस्वते
apahanti tamo yaś ca jagato 'sya jagatpatiḥ sattvadhāmadharo devo namas tasmai vivasvate
Salutations to Vivasvān, the Sun—Lord of this universe, sovereign of the world—who dispels darkness and upholds the abode of sattva, the realm of luminous purity.
Sage Parāśara (continuing instruction to Maitreya within the Purāṇic narration)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Manvantara-deva/Aditya praise within manvantara narration; role of Sūrya as dispeller of darkness and sustainer of sattva
Teaching: Devotional
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Sūrya (Vivasvān) is praised as the cosmic lord who dispels darkness and upholds the luminous sattva-order that enables dharma.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Begin the day with disciplined dawn practice (sandhyā/japa) and align actions with clarity, truthfulness, and purity.
Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s cosmic function is expressed through a specific divine manifestation (Sūrya) sustaining order in the world, indicating immanent governance without denying transcendence.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
In this verse, Vivasvān is praised as the cosmic dispeller of darkness and the upholder of sattva—symbolizing the sustaining principle that enables order, clarity, and dharma in the world.
By defining the Sun as “jagatpati” and “sattvadhāmadhara,” Parāśara frames natural sovereignty (light overcoming darkness) as a metaphysical principle: the universe is governed by an intelligible, purifying order.
Even when addressing Surya, the Vishnu Purana typically treats such deities as operating within the Supreme Reality’s governance—supporting a Vaishnava vision where cosmic functions reflect Vishnu’s overarching sovereignty.