Shloka 16

देवकी-विवाहः, आकाशवाणी, भूरभारावतरण-याचना, क्षीराब्धि-स्तुति, केशावतार-नियोजनम्

Devanagari script

तदंशभूतः सर्वेषां समूहो वः सुरोत्तमाः

Transliteration

tadaṃśabhūtaḥ sarveṣāṃ samūho vaḥ surottamāḥ

Translation

O best of the gods, this entire host of you is formed from His own portion; each of you stands as a manifestation of that Supreme Reality.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (demonstrative: that)

• अंश: portion
• अंश: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-आधार (समासाङ्ग); अर्थः भागः (portion)

• भूतः: become; constituted
• भूतः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भू (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूत (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘भूतः’ = ‘become/constituted’

• तदंशभूतः: constituted of His portion
• तदंशभूतः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य अंशः → तदंशः) + कृदन्त-विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (सामान्य), षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; ‘of all’

• समूहः: the aggregate; collection
• समूहः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समूह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• वः: of you (plural)
• वः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6/4), बहुवचन; ‘of you/for you’ (contextually संबोधन-सम्बन्धः)

• सुरोत्तमाः: O best of the gods
• सुरोत्तमाः: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (उत्तमाः सुराः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे प्रयुक्तम् (vocative sense)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Nature of the Supreme (Viṣṇu) and how gods and beings relate to Him as aṃśas/manifestations

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All devas are constituted of the Lord’s aṃśa, so their powers and identities ultimately depend on Him.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Cultivate humility and God-centered reverence by seeing all authorities and powers as dependent on the Supreme.

Vishishtadvaita: The many divine beings are real yet derivative modes/parts (aṃśa) of the one Supreme Viṣṇu, supporting unity with real plurality.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Vishnu (implied as the Supreme source)

FAQs

What is the significance of the devas being called aṃśas (portions) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames the gods as derivative powers—real and functional, yet rooted in the Supreme (Vishnu), establishing a hierarchy of sovereignty rather than independent divinities.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine hierarchy in this context?

By addressing the gods as a collective emanation of the Supreme, Parāśara implies that their authority, splendor, and cosmic roles operate through Vishnu’s overarching reality.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is implied as the ultimate ground of being from whom even the highest gods derive—supporting a Vaishnava view where the Supreme Reality encompasses and empowers all celestial agencies.