Shloka 32

परमार्थ-निर्णयः—श्रेयस्-भेदः, कर्म-ध्यान-सीमा, एकात्मदर्शनम्

Devanagari script

वेणुरन्ध्रविभेदेन भेदः षड्जादिसंज्ञितः अभेदव्यापिनो वायोस् तथा तस्य महात्मनः

Transliteration

veṇurandhravibhedena bhedaḥ ṣaḍjādisaṃjñitaḥ abhedavyāpino vāyos tathā tasya mahātmanaḥ

Translation

Pela diferença dos orifícios da flauta surgem distinções chamadas as notas que começam com ṣaḍja; contudo, o vento que as permeia permanece indiviso—assim também essa Realidade magnânima, sendo uma, parece muitas.

Word by Word

• वेणुरन्ध्रविभेदेन: by the differentiation of the flute-holes
• वेणुरन्ध्रविभेदेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेणु (प्रातिपदिक) + रन्ध्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वेणोः रन्ध्राणां विभेदः)

• भेदः: difference/variation
• भेदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• षड्जादिसंज्ञितः: designated as ṣaḍja and so on
• षड्जादिसंज्ञितः: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षड्ज (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञित (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षड्जादिभिः संज्ञितः = ‘named as ṣaḍja etc.’)

• अभेदव्यापिनः: of the all-pervading non-difference
• अभेदव्यापिनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभेद (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अभेदं व्याप्नोति इति)

• वायोः: of the wind/air
• वायोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् आत्मा यस्य)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

• Vayu (wind/breath)
• Nada (sound principle)
• Shadja (musical note)

FAQs

What is the significance of the flute-and-wind analogy in the Vishnu Purana?

It explains how many distinct forms (like musical notes) can arise from different conditions, while the underlying pervading principle (like wind/breath) remains one and undivided.

How does Sage Parāśara explain unity and diversity here?

He shows that differentiation belongs to the ‘channels’ or limiting conditions (the flute holes), not to the pervading essence; likewise, the Supreme remains one even when experienced as manifold.

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

The verse supports a Vaishnava metaphysics where the Supreme (identified with Vishnu in the Purana’s broader teaching) is the all-pervading reality—unchanged in essence, yet the ground of all manifested plurality.