Shloka 18

गर्भ-व्यवस्था, देवकी-गर्भ-स्तुति (गर्भस्तुतिः), जगदन्तर्गत-हरि-प्रतिपादनम्

Devanagari script

रूपकर्मस्वरूपाणि न परिच्छेदगोचरे यस्याखिलप्रमाणानि स विष्णुर् गर्भगस् तव

Transliteration

rūpakarmasvarūpāṇi na paricchedagocare yasyākhilapramāṇāni sa viṣṇur garbhagas tava

Translation

He whose form, deeds, and essential nature cannot be circumscribed by any measure—before whom all means of valid knowledge fall silent—that very Viṣṇu has entered your womb.

Word by Word

• रूपकर्मस्वरूपाणि: forms, actions, and essential natures
• रूपकर्मस्वरूपाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (रूपाणि च कर्माणि च स्वरूपाणि च)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• परिच्छेदगोचरे: within the scope of limitation/definition
• परिच्छेदगोचरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिच्छेद (प्रातिपदिक) + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (परिच्छेदस्य गोचरः) — ‘परिच्छेदगोचरे’ (within the range of limitation)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-यत्

• अखिलप्रमाणानि: all means of knowledge/proofs
• अखिलप्रमाणानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (अखिलानि प्रमाणानि)

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

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Apposition (Samanadhikarana/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गर्भगः: dwelling within (the womb/interior)
• गर्भगः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (गर्भं गतः/गर्भे गः) विशेषणम् (विष्णुः)

• तव: of you; your
• तव: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

Speaker

Traditionally in Ansha 5, this is voiced as a praise addressed to Devaki regarding the divinity in her womb (a Garbha-stuti); within the Purana’s frame, Sage Parāśara narrates this episode to Maitreya.

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: The immeasurable Viṣṇu takes human birth to lighten the earth’s burden and protect dharma through his līlā.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of the worlds through the re-establishment of righteous rule and devotion

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The transcendent Viṣṇu is beyond all delimiting pramāṇas, yet freely enters the womb by his own power as avatāra.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Hold together reverence for the incomprehensible divine with intimate devotion to the incarnate Lord through nāma-smaraṇa and worship.

Vishishtadvaita: Transcendence and immanence are simultaneously affirmed: the Lord is beyond measure yet can truly assume embodied presence without losing supremacy.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman (philosophical)

Bhakti Type: shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devaki

FAQs

What is the significance of describing Vishnu as beyond all pramāṇas in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Vishnu as the ultimate reality that cannot be fully captured by ordinary proofs or conceptual measures, emphasizing transcendence even while he chooses to incarnate.

How does Sage Parashara explain the incarnation in this context?

Through the narrative that Vishnu himself enters Devaki’s womb, the text unites transcendence (beyond limitation) with immanence (present within the world as an avatāra).

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu being called garbha-ga (entered the womb)?

It underscores that the Supreme Lord voluntarily becomes accessible to devotees through incarnation, without losing his limitless nature.