Shloka 48

Cosmic Appointments, Viṣṇu’s Vibhūtis, Fourfold Operation, and the Symbolism of Ornaments and Weapons

Devanagari script

निर्व्यापारम् अनाख्येयं व्याप्तिमात्रम् अनौपमम् आत्मसंबोधविषयं सत्तामात्रम् अलक्षणम्

Transliteration

nirvyāpāram anākhyeyaṃ vyāptimātram anaupamam ātmasaṃbodhaviṣayaṃ sattāmātram alakṣaṇam

Translation

Él es sin acción, indecible; pura omnipresencia, sin comparación. Se conoce sólo por el despertar interior: Ser puro, sin marca ni atributo.

Word by Word

• निर्व्यापारम्: free from activity; actionless
• निर्व्यापारम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir- + vyāpāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण; नञ्/निर्-पूर्वक-तत्पुरुष (निर्गत-व्यापारः)

• अनाख्येयम्: indescribable; not expressible
• अनाख्येयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an- + ākhyeya (प्रातिपदिक; √khyā (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (आख्येय = describable), नञ्-तत्पुरुष

• व्याप्तिमात्रम्: mere pervasion; only all-pervadingness
• व्याप्तिमात्रम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyāpti + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (व्याप्तिः एव मात्रम्)

• अनौपमम्: incomparable
• अनौपमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an- + aupama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (उपमा न अस्ति यस्य)

• आत्मसंबोधविषयम्: object of self-realization; within self-awareness
• आत्मसंबोधविषयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman + saṃbodha + viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/समाहार-तत्पुरुष (आत्मनः संबोधः = आत्मसंबोधः; तस्य विषयः)

• सत्तामात्रम्: mere existence; pure being
• सत्तामात्रम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sattā + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सत्ता एव मात्रम्)

• अलक्षणम्: without attributes/marks
• अलक्षणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (लक्षणं न अस्ति)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of describing Vishnu as nirvyāpāra (actionless) in the Vishnu Purana?

It presents the highest Vishnu-principle as transcendent and unchanged—beyond worldly doing—while still being the ground of all existence.

How does Sage Parāśara explain that the Supreme is anākhyeya (indescribable)?

He indicates that language and concepts cannot capture the ultimate reality; it is grasped not by description but by direct inner realization.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu being called vyāptimātra (pure all-pervasion) here?

It affirms Vishnu as the universal substratum pervading all beings and worlds—supporting Vaishnava Vedanta that the Supreme is immanent while remaining incomparable and beyond attributes.