Shloka 54

वासुदेवस्वरूपनिरूपणं—सर्गक्रमश्च

Vāsudeva’s Nature and the Ordered Process of Creation

Devanagari script

तत् क्रमेण विवृद्धं तु जलबुद्बुदवत् समम् भूतेभ्यो ऽण्डं महाबुद्धे बृहत् तद् उदकेशयम् प्राकृतं ब्रह्मरूपस्य विष्णोः स्थानम् अनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

tat krameṇa vivṛddhaṃ tu jalabudbudavat samam bhūtebhyo 'ṇḍaṃ mahābuddhe bṛhat tad udakeśayam prākṛtaṃ brahmarūpasya viṣṇoḥ sthānam anuttamam

Translation

Und jenes wuchs allmählich heran und dehnte sich gleichmäßig aus wie eine Blase auf den Wassern. O Großgesinnter, aus den Elementen entstand das gewaltige kosmische Ei, auf den Wassern ruhend, eine ursprüngliche (prākṛta) Bildung. Dies ist die unübertreffliche Stätte Viṣṇus, der als Brahmā die Gestalt der Schöpfung annimmt.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (egg/principle)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• क्रमेण: gradually, in sequence
• क्रमेण: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (instrumental of manner: ‘gradually’)

• विवृद्धम्: grown, expanded
• विवृद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वृध् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकालिक कृदन्त (past participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘तत्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (contrast/emphasis)

• जल: water
• जल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासे पूर्वपदम्

• बुद्बुदवत्: like a bubble
• बुद्बुदवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुद्बुद (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमानवाचक-तद्धित (like a bubble)

• समम्: even, uniform
• समम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (evenly)

• भूतेभ्यः: from the elements/beings
• भूतेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अण्डम्: the egg
• अण्डम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वाक्ये विषयः

• महाबुद्धे: O great-minded one
• महाबुद्धे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् बुद्धिः यस्य)

• बृहत्: vast, great
• बृहत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृहत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अण्डम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अण्डम्’ इत्यस्य पुनरुक्त-सूचक

• उदकेशयम्: resting in water
• उदकेशयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + शय (√शी धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उदके शयते इति/उदक-शयम्)

• प्राकृतम्: primordial, of Prakṛti
• प्राकृतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अण्डम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्मरूपस्य: of (him) whose form is Brahmā
• ब्रह्मरूपस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः रूपम्)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्थानम्: abode, place
• स्थानम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-नाम (predicate noun)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed, supreme
• अनुत्तमम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘स्थानम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Description of the brahmāṇḍa’s growth and its status as Viṣṇu’s creative station

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: compassionate

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The brahmāṇḍa expands gradually like a water-bubble and abides upon the primordial waters; it is the unsurpassed creative station of Viṣṇu assuming the form of Brahmā.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate the cosmos as a sacred manifestation sustained by the Lord; let wonder mature into steady devotion and ethical living.

Vishishtadvaita: Viṣṇu is the inner reality of the creator-form (Brahmā) and the material ground of the cosmos, affirming immanence without collapsing distinctions.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Brahmanda (cosmic egg)
• Cosmic Waters (Āpas)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Brahmāṇḍa (cosmic egg) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents the Brahmāṇḍa as the vast, primordial container of the cosmos, arising from the elements and resting on the cosmic waters—an ordered manifestation governed by Viṣṇu.

How does Sage Parāśara explain gradual creation in this context?

Parāśara describes creation as krameṇa (step-by-step), expanding uniformly like a bubble on water, emphasizing an orderly, staged unfolding rather than a sudden event.

What is the theological importance of Viṣṇu being called brahmarūpa here?

It highlights Viṣṇu’s supremacy while affirming that the creative role of Brahmā is a manifestation or function rooted in Viṣṇu—supporting a Vaishnava view where the Supreme Reality presides over and becomes the causal ground of creation.