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Shloka 35

Sṛṣṭi-krama, Pratibimba-Upādhi, and Viṣṇu as Primary Brahman

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

Devanagari script

विष्णावेव ब्रह्मशब्दो हि मुख्यो ह्यन्येष्वमुख्यो ब्रह्मरुद्रादिकेषु / अनन्तगुणपूर्णत्वाद्ब्रह्मेति हरिरुच्यते

Transliteration

viṣṇāveva brahmaśabdo hi mukhyo hyanyeṣvamukhyo brahmarudrādikeṣu / anantaguṇapūrṇatvādbrahmeti harirucyate

Translation

‘பிரம்மம்’ என்ற சொல் முதன்மையாக விஷ்ணுவிற்கே உரியது; பிரமா, ருத்ரன் முதலியோருக்கு அது துணை அர்த்தமாக மட்டுமே கூறப்படுகிறது. அனந்தமும் நிறைவுமான குணங்களால் நிறைந்ததால் ஹரியே ‘பிரம்மம்’ என அழைக்கப்படுகிறார்.

Word by Word
विष्णौin Vishnu
विष्णौ:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootविष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन
एवalone/indeed
एव:
Emphasis (अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अवधारण
ब्रह्मशब्दःthe word ‘Brahman’
ब्रह्मशब्दः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्म + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
हिindeed
हि:
Emphasis (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (emphasis/causal)
मुख्यःprimary
मुख्यः:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of ब्रह्मशब्दः)
हिindeed
हि:
Emphasis (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात
अन्येषुin others
अन्येषु:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootअन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन
अमुख्यःsecondary/not primary
अमुख्यः:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअ + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of ब्रह्मशब्दः understood)
ब्रह्मरुद्रादिकेषुamong Brahma, Rudra, and others
ब्रह्मरुद्रादिकेषु:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्म + रुद्र + आदि + क (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ समाहार (etc.)
अनन्तगुणपूर्णत्वात्because of fullness of endless qualities
अनन्तगुणपूर्णत्वात्:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootअनन्त + गुण + पूर्ण + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (हेतु), एकवचन
ब्रह्म‘Brahman’
ब्रह्म:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इति-पूर्वपद (quoted term)
इतिthus
इति:
Discourse (उद्धरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उद्धरणचिह्न (quotative particle)
हरिःHari (Vishnu)
हरिः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootहरि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
उच्यतेis called
उच्यते:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (present); कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive); प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: ‘Brahman’ is chiefly (mukhya) applicable to Viṣṇu; for Brahmā, Rudra, etc., it is secondary (gauna). Hari is termed Brahman because He is infinitely and perfectly endowed with qualities.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-pramāṇa and lakṣaṇā/gaunatā: the Supreme as ananta-kalyāṇa-guṇa-paripūrṇa; Brahman as Bhagavān (saguṇa in the sense of infinite auspicious attributes).

Application: Use scriptural terms carefully: reserve ultimate predicates for the Supreme; cultivate contemplation of Viṣṇu’s ananta-kalyāṇa-guṇas as a bhakti-jnana practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.2.34 (Viṣṇu as supreme); Garuda Purana 3.2.36-38 (no other has infinite qualities; dharma and scriptural statements about infinity)

Characters & Entities
V
Vishnu
H
Hari
B
Brahma
R
Rudra

FAQs

This verse defines “Brahman” as a title that applies in the fullest, primary sense to Viṣṇu/Hari, grounding the word in the idea of infinite, complete divine qualities.

No. It states that the label “Brahman” is not primary for them; their association with the term is secondary compared to Viṣṇu, who is described as infinitely complete in attributes.

Use it to clarify devotion and study: when reflecting on the highest reality (Brahman), focus on cultivating remembrance, worship, and ethical living aligned with Hari’s divine qualities.

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