Shloka 55

Devanagari script

तत्राप्य् आसन्नदूरत्वाद् बहुत्वस्वल्पतामयः ज्योत्स्नाभेदो ऽस्ति तच्छक्तेस् तद्वन् मैत्रेय विद्यते

Transliteration

tatrāpy āsannadūratvād bahutvasvalpatāmayaḥ jyotsnābhedo 'sti tacchaktes tadvan maitreya vidyate

Translation

そこでも、近さ遠さによって月光は「多い」「少ない」と見えるが、それは顕れの差にすぎない。同様に、マイトレーヤよ、かの実在のシャクティは本質において一つでありながら、条件と立場により多様に理解される。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there, in that case
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• आसन्नदूरत्वात्: from (the factor of) nearness and farness
• आसन्नदूरत्वात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + दूर (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (आसन्नं च दूरं च) + त्व-प्रत्यय (abstract noun)

• बहुत्वस्वल्पतामयः: consisting of abundance and scantiness
• बहुत्वस्वल्पतामयः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुत्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वल्पता (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (बहुत्वं च स्वल्पता च) + मय (consisting of)

• ज्योत्स्नाभेदः: difference/variation of moonlight
• ज्योत्स्नाभेदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योत्स्ना (प्रातिपदिक) + भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ज्योत्स्नायाः भेदः)

• अस्ति: is, exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• तच्छक्तेः: of that power
• तच्छक्तेः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य शक्तिः)

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (Comparator/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्यताबोधक-अव्यय (like that, similarly)

• मैत्रेय: O Maitreya
• मैत्रेय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• विद्यते: is found, exists
• विद्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु) → विद्यते (आत्मनेपद)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Why one Brahman’s śakti appears differentiated (more/less) according to proximity and standpoint, like moonlight

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Differences perceived in the Divine power are due to conditions of reception and standpoint, not due to any real division in that power’s essence.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: When confronted with unequal capacities or experiences, practice viveka: distinguish the one underlying Reality from the varying upādhis, cultivating non-envy and steady devotion.

Vishishtadvaita: Unity of the Lord’s śakti is maintained while acknowledging real plurality of modes/conditions in the world—difference without separation (apr̥thak-siddhi).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Śakti (divine power/energy)

FAQs

What is the significance of the moonlight analogy in this Vishnu Purana verse?

It shows that perceived differences (more/less) can arise from conditions like distance, while the underlying source remains one—used here to explain how a single divine power can appear manifold.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the idea of one power appearing as many?

He uses a natural example (moonlight) to argue that variation is often in manifestation and perception; similarly, the one śakti of the Supreme is experienced as diverse effects within the cosmos.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

The verse supports a Vaishnava metaphysics where Vishnu’s supreme reality is unitary, while His śakti governs the universe through differentiated appearances—affirming sovereignty without fragmenting the Divine.