Vishnu Purana — Amsha 1 - Cosmic Origination, Shloka 32

वासुदेवस्वरूपनिरूपणं—सर्गक्रमश्च

Vāsudeva’s Nature and the Ordered Process of Creation

Devanagari script

विकासाणुस्वरूपैश् च ब्रह्मरूपादिभिस् तथा व्यक्तस्वरूपश् च तथा विष्णुः सर्वेश्वरेश्वरः

Transliteration

vikāsāṇusvarūpaiś ca brahmarūpādibhis tathā vyaktasvarūpaś ca tathā viṣṇuḥ sarveśvareśvaraḥ

Translation

ヴィシュヌ—諸主の主—は、展開と原子のごとき微細さの背後にある微妙なる原理として在り、またブラフマー等の宇宙的形相として在り、さらに完全に顕現し知覚されうる実在としても在る。

Word by Word

• विकास-अणु-स्वरूपैः: by forms consisting of subtle expansions
• विकास-अणु-स्वरूपैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + aṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अणूनां स्वरूपैः; विकास-विशिष्टैः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• ब्रह्म-रूप-आदिभिः: by forms such as Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्म-रूप-आदिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मरूपं आदिः येषां तैः = with forms beginning with Brahmā-form)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुरूपता (thus/likewise)

• व्यक्त-स्वरूपः: having manifest form
• व्यक्त-स्वरूपः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyakta (प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (व्यक्तं स्वरूपं यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुरूपता

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्व-ईश्वर-ईश्वरः: Lord of all lords
• सर्व-ईश्वर-ईश्वरः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषाम् ईश्वराणाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How Vishnu pervades all scales and forms—from atomic subtlety to Brahmā and manifest reality.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vishnu is present as the subtlest principle (aṇu) and the expansive principle (vikāsa), as Brahmā and other cosmic offices, and as the manifest world—there is no realm outside His lordship.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Practice seeing the divine in both the minute (daily acts, breath) and the vast (nature, cosmos), fostering reverence and ethical restraint.

Vishishtadvaita: Supports the doctrine of śarīra-śarīrī: all beings and cosmic functions (including Brahmā) are modes/body of Vishnu, who remains their inner ruler.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu being described as both subtle (aṇu) and expansive (vikāsa) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Vishnu as immanent at every scale of reality—present as the finest subtle principle and also as the expansive power through which the cosmos unfolds.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the relationship between Vishnu and Brahmā here?

Parāśara presents Brahmā as one of the forms through which Vishnu functions in creation, indicating that cosmic roles arise from the Supreme rather than standing independent of Him.

What is the theological importance of calling Vishnu 'sarveśvareśvara' in this context?

It asserts Vishnu’s ultimate sovereignty: even divine rulers and cosmic administrators derive their authority and existence from Him, reinforcing Vishnu as the highest reality.