Shloka 45

देवकी-विवाहः, आकाशवाणी, भूरभारावतरण-याचना, क्षीराब्धि-स्तुति, केशावतार-नियोजनम्

Devanagari script

यथाग्निर् एको बहुधा समिध्यते विकारभेदैर् अविकाररूपः तथा भवान् सर्वगतैकरूपो रूपाण्य् अनेकान्य् अनुपुष्यतीशः

Transliteration

yathāgnir eko bahudhā samidhyate vikārabhedair avikārarūpaḥ tathā bhavān sarvagataikarūpo rūpāṇy anekāny anupuṣyatīśaḥ

Translation

เปรียบดั่งไฟที่เป็นหนึ่งเดียว แต่ถูกจุดให้ลุกโชนได้หลายวิธี—ปรากฏแตกต่างกันไปตามเงื่อนไข แต่เนื้อแท้ยังคงเดิม—พระองค์ก็เช่นกัน: พระผู้เป็นเจ้าหนึ่งเดียวผู้แผ่ซ่านไปทั่ว ทรงมีแก่นแท้เดียว ทรงค้ำจุนและให้ชีวิตแก่รูปกายนับไม่ถ้วน โดยไม่สูญเสียความเป็นหนึ่งเดียว

Word by Word

यथाjust as

अग्निःfire

एकःone

बहुधाin many ways

समिध्यतेis kindled, blazes

विकारभेदैःby differences of modifications

अविकाररूपःof unchanging nature

तथाso, likewise

भवान्you (Lord)

सर्वगतैकरूपःall-pervading and one-formed

रूपाणिforms

अनेकानिmany

अनुपुष्यतिnourishes, sustains

ईशःthe Lord

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Like one fire appearing many through differing conditions while remaining unchanged, the Lord is one, all-pervading, and sustains many forms without losing His single sovereign essence.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: See diversity without losing sight of unity: honor varied paths and beings as supported by one Lord; practice non-reactive steadiness amid changing conditions.

Vishishtadvaita: Distinguishes immutable divine essence from mutable manifested forms—compatible with Vishishtadvaita’s real plurality dependent on the one unchanging Brahman (śeṣi) sustaining all (śeṣa).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of the fire analogy in the Vishnu Purana?

It explains how the Lord can appear in many forms and functions in the world while remaining essentially unchanged—one reality expressed through many conditions.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Lord’s presence in all beings and forms?

He presents Vishnu as sarvagata (all-pervading) and eka-rūpa (one in essence), who nevertheless sustains innumerable forms as their inner support.

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

Vishnu is affirmed as the sovereign sustainer of the universe—immanent in all diversity yet transcending change—supporting later Vaishnava readings of the Supreme as both beyond and within creation.