Shloka 32

Devanagari script

वेणुरन्ध्रविभेदेन भेदः षड्जादिसंज्ञितः अभेदव्यापिनो वायोस् तथा तस्य महात्मनः

Transliteration

veṇurandhravibhedena bhedaḥ ṣaḍjādisaṃjñitaḥ abhedavyāpino vāyos tathā tasya mahātmanaḥ

Translation

புல்லாங்குழலின் துளை வேறுபாடால் ஷட்ஜம் முதலிய ஸ்வர வேறுபாடுகள் தோன்றுகின்றன; ஆனால் அவற்றில் ஊடுருவும் காற்று பிளவில்லாததே—அதுபோல அந்த மகாத்மத் தத்துவம் ஒன்றாயிருந்தும் பலவாகத் தோன்றுகிறது.

Word by Word

वेणुरन्ध्रविभेदेनby the differentiation of the flute-holes

भेदःdifference/variation

षड्जादिसंज्ञितःdesignated as ṣaḍja and so on

अभेदव्यापिनःof the all-pervading non-difference

वायोःof the wind/air

तथाlikewise

तस्यof him/of that

महात्मनःof the great-souled one

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Just as one undivided wind produces many musical notes through different flute apertures, the one Reality appears as many through differing conditions.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: When encountering diversity and conflict, recall the ‘flute-and-wind’ model: respond to forms without forgetting the single underlying consciousness.

Vishishtadvaita: Explains plurality as real modes/expressions conditioned by upādhis while the pervading principle remains one—amenable to qualified non-dual unity-in-diversity.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

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.