Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43
The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari
यथा हस्तिपदे सर्वं पदमात्रं प्रलीयते । तथा चराचरं विश्वं विष्णावेव प्रलीयते ॥ ४३ ॥
yathā hastipade sarvaṃ padamātraṃ pralīyate | tathā carācaraṃ viśvaṃ viṣṇāveva pralīyate || 43 ||
象の足跡にあらゆる足跡が包まれるように、動くものと動かぬものから成る全宇宙も、ついにはただヴィシュヌのうちに帰入して溶け去る。
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It declares Vishnu as the supreme substratum: all existence—animate and inanimate—ultimately returns to Him at pralaya, pointing the seeker toward final refuge (śaraṇāgati) and liberation.
By presenting Vishnu as the final end of all beings, the verse supports single-pointed devotion (ananya-bhakti): devotion is not merely a practice, but alignment with the ultimate reality into which all dissolves.
No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; it is primarily a Vedantic/pralayic doctrine used to ground practice—ritual and discipline gain meaning when aimed at Vishnu as the final goal.