Anushasana Parva Adhyaya 164 Shloka 39 - Mahabharata | Chinese | Vedapath

Vyasa

Shloka 39

Devanagari script

ये विश्वके निवासस्थान और निर्गुण हैं। इन्हींको वासुदेव, जीवभूत संकर्षण, प्रद्युम्न और चौथा अनिरुद्ध कहते हैं। ये आत्मयोनि परमात्मा सबको अपनी आज्ञाके अधीन रखते हैं

Transliteration

ye viśvake nivāsasthānaṃ ca nirguṇāḥ | etān eva vāsudevaḥ, jīvabhūtaḥ saṅkarṣaṇaḥ, pradyumnaḥ, caturthaś cāniruddha iti vadanti | te ātmayoniḥ paramātmā sarvān svājñāyā adhīnaṃ kurvanti |

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“彼为宇宙之所依止，超越诸性（离三德）。智者称彼为婆苏提婆（Vāsudeva）、生类之本的僧羯沙那（Saṅkarṣaṇa）、普罗陀优摩那（Pradyumna），以及第四位阿尼卢陀（Aniruddha）。彼自生而为至上我，以自身之命令统摄一切众生。”

Word by Word

येthese (who)

विश्वकेof the universe

निवासस्थानabodes/dwelling-places

चand

निर्गुणwithout qualities; attributeless

हन्तिis/are (intended: 'are')

एतान्these (as object)

एवindeed; only

वासुदेवVāsudeva

जीवभूतas the living principle; having become a jīva

संकर्षणSaṅkarṣaṇa

प्रद्युम्नPradyumna

चand

चतुर्थम्the fourth

अनिरुद्धम्Aniruddha

आहुःthey call; they say

येthese (who)

आत्मयोनिself-born; having the self as source

परमात्मानःthe Supreme Selves; Supreme Soul(s)

सर्वान्all (beings)

स्वाम्their own

आज्ञाम्command; authority

अधीनान्subject to; under control

कुर्वन्तिthey make; they keep

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Vāsudeva

Saṅkarṣaṇa

Pradyumna

Aniruddha

Paramātmā

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents a theological-metaphysical doctrine: the Supreme, beyond material qualities (nirguṇa), is the cosmic abode and governs all beings. This Supreme is described through the fourfold manifestation (Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha), emphasizing divine sovereignty and the ordered governance of the world.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and higher truths. Here he shifts to a devotional and philosophical exposition, identifying the Supreme Lord’s forms and affirming that all beings remain under the Lord’s command.