Shloka 118
Invocations, Definition and Authority of Purāṇa, Pulastya–Bhīṣma Frame, and the Creation–Dissolution Schema
स्रष्टा सृजति चात्मानं विष्णुः पाल्यं च पाति च । उपसंह्रियते चापि संहर्त्ता च स्वयं प्रभुः
sraṣṭā sṛjati cātmānaṃ viṣṇuḥ pālyaṃ ca pāti ca | upasaṃhriyate cāpi saṃharttā ca svayaṃ prabhuḥ
بوصفه الخالق يُنشئ الخلق من ذاته؛ وبوصفه فيشنو يحفظ ما ينبغي حفظه؛ وعند الانحلال يُسترجَع كلّ شيءٍ إليه أيضًا—حقًّا إنّ الربّ نفسه هو المُهلِك.
Unspecified (narrative voice within Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa context)
Concept: The Lord is self-originating creator, Vishnu the protector, and also the withdrawer/destroyer—one प्रभु performing all cosmic roles.
Application: Anchor trust in a single divine governance: act responsibly (dharma) while surrendering outcomes; cultivate protective compassion as an imitation of Vishnu’s pālana.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A triptych-like cosmic tableau merges into one figure: the Lord emanates a universe from his own luminous heart, extends a protective hand over living beings, and gently draws the cosmos back into himself like a breath returning. The scene communicates not violence but sovereign completeness—creation, care, and reabsorption as one continuous divine rhythm.","primary_figures":["The Lord (Vishnu as supreme प्रभु)"],"setting":"Cosmic mandala showing three phases—emanation, protection, reabsorption—blended into a single circular composition","lighting_mood":"divine radiance with calm clarity","color_palette":["radiant gold","sapphire blue","ivory white","vermillion","forest green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central Vishnu enthroned with a large gold leaf halo; left side shows miniature worlds emerging from a lotus/heart radiance, right side shows beings sheltered under his abhaya hand, lower arc shows the cosmos dissolving into a luminous spiral back to him; rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, ornate arch and gold embossing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: elegant circular composition with Vishnu at center, delicate vignettes of creation/protection/dissolution around him, soft blues and ivories, refined facial features, lyrical clouds and subtle stars, gentle narrative clarity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic Vishnu with bold outlines; three surrounding medallions for sṛṣṭi-sthiti-laya using symbolic motifs (lotus, protective palm, inward spiral), strong red/yellow/green palette, temple-wall aesthetic and patterned borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Vishnu-centered mandala with concentric lotus rings; outer ring shows tiny scenes of beings protected, inner ring shows worlds emerging and returning; deep blue ground with gold highlights, intricate floral borders, symmetrical devotional layout."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","soft temple bells","conch shell (gentle, concluding)","silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चात्मानं → च आत्मानम्; चापि → च अपि; संहर्त्ता → संहर्ता (agent noun; orthographic doubling in some editions).
FAQs
It emphasizes a single supreme Lord who performs creation, preservation (as Viṣṇu), and dissolution—presenting the cosmic functions as unified in one प्रभु (Prabhu).
It suggests creation is not external to the divine; the world proceeds from the Lord’s own being/power, supporting an emanation-and-reabsorption view of cosmology.
Seeing the same Lord behind arising, sustaining, and ending of all things fosters steadiness and devotion, reducing fear of change by grounding it in divine sovereignty.