Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

विभूतयस् तु यास् तस्य तासाम् एव परस्परम् आधिक्यन्यूनता बाध्यबाधकत्वेन वर्तते

Transliteration

vibhūtayas tu yās tasya tāsām eva parasparam ādhikyanyūnatā bādhyabādhakatvena vartate

Translation

Yet His many vibhūtis—manifestations of power—are not all of equal rank: among those very vibhūtis arise degrees of greater and lesser, functioning mutually as what is constrained and what constrains.

Word by Word

• विभूतयः: manifestations, powers
• विभूतयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• याः: which (fem. pl.)
• याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• तासाम्: of those (fem. pl.)
• तासाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• एव: only, indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• परस्परम्: mutually, with one another
• परस्परम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), परस्पर-भावे (mutually)

• आधिक्यन्यूनता: excess and deficiency (relative superiority/inferiority)
• आधिक्यन्यूनता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधिक्य + न्यूनता (प्रातिपदिके; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘आधिक्य’ (excess) + ‘न्यूनता’ (deficiency)

• बाध्यबाधकत्वेन: in the form of being the obstructed and the obstructer
• बाध्यबाधकत्वेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाध्य + बाधक + त्व (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; -त्व (abstract noun)

• वर्तते: exists, operates, occurs
• वर्तते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vishnu’s vibhūtis are not uniform; they exhibit relative degrees that operate as mutually constraining and constrained powers within the divine economy.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Discern gradations in capacities and roles without denying the single divine source; cultivate humility and right ordering of priorities.

Vishishtadvaita: Unity of the Lord with real internal differentiation—divine powers are many and graded, yet grounded in one supreme reality.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of vibhūtis (divine manifestations) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse clarifies that Vishnu’s manifestations are many, yet they are graded—some are stronger, some weaker—and together they uphold cosmic order through mutual governance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain hierarchy within divine powers?

Parāśara states that among Vishnu’s own vibhūtis there is relative superiority and inferiority, so they act as ‘restrained’ and ‘restraining’ forces in relation to one another.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is implied as the Supreme source whose diverse powers remain ordered and purposeful, reinforcing His sovereignty over the structured functioning of reality.