Shloka 50
अक्रूर-सत्कारः, मथुरायात्रा-विरहः, यमुनातटे दिव्यदर्शनम्, चतुर्व्यूह-नमस्कारः
भूतात्मा चेन्द्रियात्मा च प्रधानात्मा तथा भवान् आत्मा च परमात्मा च त्वम् एकः पञ्चधा स्थितः
bhūtātmā cendriyātmā ca pradhānātmā tathā bhavān ātmā ca paramātmā ca tvam ekaḥ pañcadhā sthitaḥ
You alone are One, yet you abide in fivefold manner: as the Self within beings, as the Self within the senses, as the Self of Pradhāna (primordial Nature), as the individual self, and as the Supreme Self (Paramātman).
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Creation Stage: Primary
Concept: The one Lord abides in a fivefold way—within beings, senses, Pradhana, the individual self, and as Paramatman—governing every stratum of reality.
Vedantic Theme: Atman
Application: Train discrimination (viveka) to see the same divine governance in body, senses, nature, and consciousness, cultivating humility and steadiness.
Vishishtadvaita: Strong antaryamin doctrine: the Supreme is immanent in beings and cosmic principles while remaining Paramatman—supporting unity with real distinctions (cit/acit as modes).
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
Antaryamin: Yes
Jagat Karana: Yes
FAQs
This verse presents Vishnu’s sovereignty as all-pervading: the Lord is described as present as the inner Self of beings, senses, primordial Nature, the individual soul, and as the Supreme Self—showing one Supreme reality governing multiple levels of existence.
By calling the Lord “pradhānātmā,” Parāśara indicates that prakṛti is not independent; it is pervaded, sustained, and directed by Vishnu as its inner ruler, integrating cosmology with theology.
Vishnu is affirmed as Paramātman who also indwells the jīva and the cosmic principles; the verse supports a Vaishnava Vedantic view where the Supreme remains one, yet manifests as the controller and ground of all realities.