Shloka 64

Devanagari script

अप्राणवत्सु स्वल्पाल्पा स्थावरेषु ततो ऽधिका सरीसृपेषु तेभ्यो ऽन्याप्य् अतिशक्त्या पतत्त्रिषु

Transliteration

aprāṇavatsu svalpālpā sthāvareṣu tato 'dhikā sarīsṛpeṣu tebhyo 'nyāpy atiśaktyā patattriṣu

Translation

In those without vital breath the potency is exceedingly slight; in immobile beings it is greater; in creeping creatures greater still; and beyond them, in birds, it manifests with yet more extraordinary power.

Word by Word

• अप्राणवत्सु: among the lifeless
• अप्राणवत्सु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ- (निषेध) + प्राणवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भे ‘भूतेषु’), सप्तमी, बहुवचन; ‘in the lifeless (beings)’

• स्वल्पाल्पा: very small
• स्वल्पाल्पा: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (स्वल्पा च अल्पा च) अर्थे ‘very small’; विशेषणम् (शक्तिः—अनुवर्तते)

• स्थावरेषु: among immovables
• स्थावरेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; ‘in immobile beings/plants’

• ततः: then/thereafter; than that
• ततः: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमवाचक (from that/thereafter/than that)

• अधिका: greater
• अधिका: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शक्तिः)

• सरीसृपेषु: among reptiles
• सरीसृपेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरीसृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; ‘among reptiles/creeping creatures’

• तेभ्यः: than them
• तेभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), बहुवचन; ‘from/than them’

• अन्या: another (greater)
• अन्या: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शक्तिः)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (also/even)

• अतिशक्त्या: with greater power
• अतिशक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘with excessive power/strength’

• पतत्त्रिषु: among birds
• पतत्त्रिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतत्त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; ‘among birds’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Illustration of consciousness-gradation across classes of beings (from non-breathing to birds).

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: didactic

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The manifested potency of the indwelling consciousness is observed as progressively greater across embodied forms—non-breathing, immobile, creeping, and flying beings.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: See life as a graded field of experience shaped by karma; cultivate sattva and compassion toward all beings as fellow bearers of the indweller.

Vishishtadvaita: Embodiment differences are real effects of karma within Viṣṇu’s ordered governance; all bodies are modes within the Lord’s cosmic body while the jīva remains distinct.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

FAQs

What is the significance of graded power across beings in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents creation as an ordered hierarchy where capability (śakti) appears in increasing degrees—from breathless matter to immobile life, to reptiles, and more strongly in birds—reflecting a purposeful cosmic arrangement.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the distribution of vitality in creation?

Parāśara describes a stepwise increase of potency across categories of beings, implying that life and capacity are not random but proportioned according to the cosmic design governed by the Supreme.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the line, the teaching assumes His sovereignty: the differentiated powers of beings are expressions of the Supreme Lord’s regulating energy within creation.