Shloka 84

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

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

Devanagari script

समस्तकल्याणगुणात्मको हि स्वशक्तिलेशावृतभूतसर्गः इच्छागृहीताभिमतोरुदेहः संसाधिताशेषजगद्धितो ऽसौ

Transliteration

samastakalyāṇaguṇātmako hi svaśaktileśāvṛtabhūtasargaḥ icchāgṛhītābhimatorudehaḥ saṃsādhitāśeṣajagaddhito 'sau

Translation

He is indeed the embodiment of every auspicious excellence. By but a minute fraction of His own power, the whole creation of beings is veiled and set in motion. By mere will He assumes a vast, chosen form and accomplishes, without remainder, the welfare of the entire universe.

Word by Word

• समस्तकल्याणगुणात्मकः: possessed of all auspicious qualities
• समस्तकल्याणगुणात्मकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्तकल्याणगुणात्मक (प्रातिपदिक; समस्त + कल्याण + गुण + आत्मक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्मिन् समस्ताः कल्याणगुणाः सन्ति सः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• स्वशक्तिलेशावृतभूतसर्गः: whose creation of beings is veiled by a fraction of his own power
• स्वशक्तिलेशावृतभूतसर्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वशक्तिलेशावृतभूतसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + शक्ति + लेश + आवृत + भूत + सर्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य भूतसर्गः स्वशक्तेः लेशेन आवृतः)

• इच्छागृहीताभिमतोरुदेहः: whose vast body is assumed by will, as desired
• इच्छागृहीताभिमतोरुदेहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इच्छागृहीताभिमतोरुदेह (प्रातिपदिक; इच्छा + गृहीत + अभिमत + उरु + देह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य देहः इच्छया गृहीतः, अभिमतः, उरुः)

• संसाधिताशेषजगद्धितः: who has accomplished the welfare of the entire world
• संसाधिताशेषजगद्धितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसाधिताशेषजगद्धित (प्रातिपदिक; सम् + साधित + अशेष + जगत् + हित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (येन अशेषस्य जगतः हितं संसाधितम्)

• असौ: that one (he)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The Lord’s auspicious attributes, His śakti as the driver of creation, and His will-assumed forms for the good of the universe.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord is the sum of all auspicious qualities; by a mere fraction of His power creation proceeds, and by His will He assumes chosen vast forms to accomplish the welfare of the whole universe.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Let devotion rest on the Lord’s kalyāṇa-guṇas (auspicious attributes): trust that divine power sustains the world and that God’s manifestations serve universal good.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms saguna Brahman as truly possessed of infinite auspicious qualities (kalyāṇa-guṇa), central to Viśiṣṭādvaita’s personal Absolute.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of describing Vishnu as “samasta-kalyāṇa-guṇātmaka” in the Vishnu Purana?

It presents Vishnu as the Supreme Reality characterized by limitless auspicious attributes, grounding devotion and theology in a personal, attribute-full Brahman who actively governs the cosmos.

How does Sage Parāśara explain creation through “a fraction of His power” in this verse?

Parāśara emphasizes divine sovereignty: the universe arises and operates under only a minute portion of Vishnu’s Shakti, implying that cosmic manifestation is dependent and subordinate to the Supreme.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu “assuming a vast, desired form by will” here?

It conveys that divine embodiment is intentional and purposeful—Vishnu takes forms by will to accomplish universal welfare, aligning with avatāra doctrine and a theistic, providential view of cosmic order.