Shloka 81

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

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

Devanagari script

खाण्डिक्यजनकायाह पृष्टः केशिध्वजः पुरा नामव्याख्याम् अनन्तस्य वासुदेवस्य तत्त्वतः

Transliteration

khāṇḍikyajanakāyāha pṛṣṭaḥ keśidhvajaḥ purā nāmavyākhyām anantasya vāsudevasya tattvataḥ

Translation

Long ago, when questioned by Khāṇḍikya Janaka, Keśidhvaja set forth, in accord with truth, the explanation of the divine names of Ananta—Vāsudeva.

Word by Word

• खाण्डिक्यजनकाय: to Khāṇḍikya’s father (Janaka)
• खाण्डिक्यजनकाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खाण्डिक्यजनक (प्रातिपदिक; खाण्डिक्य + जनक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (खाण्डिक्यस्य जनकः)

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पृष्टः: having been asked
• पृष्टः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृच्छ् (धातु) + त (क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘केशिध्वजः’ इति विशेषणम्

• केशिध्वजः: Keśidhvaja
• केशिध्वजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशिध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• नामव्याख्याम्: the explanation of the name
• नामव्याख्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामव्याख्या (प्रातिपदिक; नामन् + व्याख्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नाम्नः व्याख्या)

• अनन्तस्य: of Ananta
• अनन्तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वासुदेवस्य: of Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तत्त्वतः: truly; in essence
• तत्त्वतः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘in truth/according to reality’)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya, introducing an earlier royal-sage teaching)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Explanation of the divine names (nāma-vyākhyā) of Ananta and Vāsudeva as taught by Keśidhvaja to Janaka.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The divine names of Ananta and Vāsudeva are to be explained in accordance with tattva (reality), not merely as convention.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Approach nāma-japa and scriptural study as tattva-vicāra—seeking the Lord’s nature and not only emotional comfort.

Vishishtadvaita: Names indicate the real attributes and lordship of the personal Brahman (Vāsudeva), not an attribute-less abstraction.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Vyuha Form: Vasudeva

Characters & Entities

• Keśidhvaja
• Khāṇḍikya Janaka
• Ananta
• Vāsudeva
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of explaining the names ‘Ananta’ and ‘Vāsudeva’ in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames the divine names as theological gateways: ‘Ananta’ signals the Lord’s endless, sustaining nature, and ‘Vāsudeva’ points to Vishnu as the all-pervading indweller—known ‘tattvataḥ,’ as ultimate reality.

How does Sage Parāśara structure teachings using earlier dialogues?

Parāśara often authenticates doctrine by citing exemplary royal-sage conversations; here he introduces an older exchange where Keśidhvaja answers Janaka, embedding philosophy inside genealogy and sacred history.

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

Vishnu is presented not merely as a deity among others but as the supreme principle whose true nature is approached through precise understanding of His names and their metaphysical import.