Shloka 8

मानससृष्टिः, रुद्रोत्पत्तिः, मन्वादिवंशः, प्रलयचतुष्टयम्

Devanagari script

सर्वे ते ऽभ्यागतज्ञाना वीतरागा विमत्सराः तेष्व् एवं निरपेक्षेषु लोकसृष्टौ महात्मनः ब्रह्मणो ऽभून् महान् क्रोधस् त्रैलोक्यदहनक्षमः

Transliteration

sarve te 'bhyāgatajñānā vītarāgā vimatsarāḥ teṣv evaṃ nirapekṣeṣu lokasṛṣṭau mahātmanaḥ brahmaṇo 'bhūn mahān krodhas trailokyadahanakṣamaḥ

Translation

Alle waren weise im Annehmen dessen, was zu ihnen kam, frei von Leidenschaft und ohne Neid. Doch als der großherzige Brahmā solche Wesen selbst im Werk der Weltschöpfung völlig ungebunden sah, ergriff ihn ein gewaltiger Zorn, der die drei Welten verzehren konnte.

Word by Word

sarveall

tethey

abhyāgata-jñānāḥknowing the arrival (aware of guests/arrivals)

vīta-rāgāḥfree from passion

vi-matsarāḥwithout envy

teṣuin/among them

evamthus

nirapekṣeṣuin those who were indifferent/unconcerned

loka-sṛṣṭauin the creation of the world

mahātmanaḥof the great-souled

brahmaṇaḥof Brahmā

abhūtarose/was

mahāngreat

krodhaḥanger

trailokya-dahana-kṣamaḥcapable of burning the three worlds

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How creation proceeds when prior mind-born beings remain detached from procreation and world-manifestation

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even dispassion (vairāgya) in beings tasked with creation can obstruct manifestation, precipitating a rajasic impulse (here, Brahmā’s krodha) that drives further emanation.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Balance inner detachment with responsible action in one’s appointed duties, so renunciation does not become inertia.

Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic functions unfold through divinely ordered roles; even the guṇas and creator-functions operate under the Supreme’s overarching ordinance rather than independent agency.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

Brahmā

the three worlds (Trailokya)

FAQs

What is the significance of Brahmā’s anger being described as capable of burning the three worlds?

It marks wrath as a cosmic power: not merely an emotion, but a force that can dissolve creation, showing how creation and destruction operate through potent principles within the divine order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the problem of detached beings in the act of creation?

Parāśara presents their complete indifference (nirapekṣatā) as a narrative trigger—Brahmā, intent on populating and ordering the worlds, reacts when potential creators remain unmoved by the project of manifestation.

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

Even when the verse names Brahmā, the Purāṇic framework treats such powers as functioning within Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty—cosmic emotions and forces arise and act as instruments in the larger maintenance of universal order.