Shloka 79

आत्यन्तिक-लयहेतुः: तापत्रय-विवेचनम् तथा ‘भगवान्/वासुदेव’ शब्दार्थः

Threefold Suffering and the Path to Final Liberation; Meaning of Bhagavān and Vāsudeva

Devanagari script

ज्ञानशक्तिबलैश्वर्यवीर्यतेजांस्य् अशेषतः भगवच्छब्दवाच्यानि विना हेयैर् गुणादिभिः

Transliteration

jñānaśaktibalaiśvaryavīryatejāṃsy aśeṣataḥ bhagavacchabdavācyāni vinā heyair guṇādibhiḥ

Translation

Complete and without remainder, knowledge, power, strength, sovereignty, heroism, and splendor are what the word “Bhagavān” truly signifies—untainted by any rejectable qualities or defects.

Word by Word

• ज्ञानशक्तिबलैश्वर्यवीर्यतेजांसि: knowledge, power, strength, lordship, valor, and splendor
• ज्ञानशक्तिबलैश्वर्यवीर्यतेजांसि: Karta (Subject of implied ‘are’/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समास (a list of qualities)

• अशेषतः: entirely
• अशेषतः: Sambandha (Adverbial qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb): “entirely/without remainder”

• भगवच्छब्दवाच्यानि: denoted by the term ‘Bhagavat’
• भगवच्छब्दवाच्यानि: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + वाच्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वच्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; विशेषण (denotable by the word ‘Bhagavat’)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Exclusion/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-निपात (preposition-like indeclinable) governing तृतीया/पञ्चमी usage; here with तृतीया

• हेयैः: with rejectable (things)
• हेयैः: Karana (Excluded accompaniment/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √हा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (to be abandoned)

• गुणादिभिः: by/with qualities and the like
• गुणादिभिः: Karana (Instrument/Excluded set/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (qualities etc.)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Intrinsic ‘bhaga’ (opulences) that constitute the meaning of “Bhagavān,” excluding all defects

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: “Bhagavān” denotes the fullness of six opulences—knowledge, power, strength, sovereignty, heroism, and splendor—entirely free from any दोष (defect).

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Measure spiritual ideals by completeness and purity: seek the flawless refuge whose attributes are unlimited and untainted, rather than partial excellences.

Vishishtadvaita: Nirdoṣatva with infinite auspicious qualities (ananta-kalyāṇa-guṇa) aligns with Vishishtadvaita’s personal Absolute.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Lord Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the significance of the word “Bhagavān” in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse defines “Bhagavān” as the one in whom the six supreme excellences—knowledge, power, strength, sovereignty, heroism, and splendor—exist fully and without any defect.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the nature of the Supreme in this passage?

Parāśara characterizes the Supreme (Vishnu) through positive, complete divine attributes while explicitly denying any “heyā” (rejectable) qualities—establishing both fullness and purity.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu is presented as Bhagavān: the Supreme Lord whose perfection is measured by unlimited auspicious qualities and the absence of flaws—central to Vaishnava doctrines of divine sovereignty.