Shloka 2

Naimittika and Prākṛtika Pralaya

Periodic and Primordial Dissolution

Devanagari script

उतिष्ठन्ति तदा रौद्रा दिवि सप्त दिवाकराः / ते तु पीत्वा जलं सर्वं शोषयन्ति जगत्त्रयम्

Transliteration

utiṣṭhanti tadā raudrā divi sapta divākarāḥ / te tu pītvā jalaṃ sarvaṃ śoṣayanti jagattrayam

Translation

Then, in the heavens, seven fierce suns arise; and having drunk up all the waters, they dry up the three worlds.

Word by Word

• उतिष्ठन्ति: rise up
• उतिष्ठन्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of time/कालवाचक)

• रौद्राः: fierce/terrible
• रौद्राः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (दिवाकराणाम्)

• दिवि: in the sky/heaven
• दिवि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (place)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे; विशेषण

• दिवाकराः: suns
• दिवाकराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्ता

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्ता

• तु: indeed/then
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; emphasis/contrast)

• पीत्वा: having drunk
• पीत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Absolutive/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; 'having drunk'

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (जलम्)

• शोषयन्ति: dry up
• शोषयन्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच् (causative sense: 'cause to dry')

• जगत्-त्रयम्: the three worlds
• जगत्-त्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All elements, even waters sustaining life, are subject to cosmic dissolution; the three worlds are contingent and perishable.

Vedantic Theme: Jagat as vyāvahārika and impermanent; kāla-prabhāva; impetus toward vairāgya and seeking the imperishable.

Application: Contemplate impermanence to reduce fear of loss and strengthen commitment to lasting spiritual aims (bhakti/jñāna).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: celestial sky

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: pralaya fire and drying of waters motifs in cosmology passages

Characters & Entities

• Sapta Divakaras (seven suns)
• Jagat-traya (three worlds)

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'seven suns' (sapta divākarāḥ) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses the image of seven suns as a pralaya-sign: intensified solar force consumes moisture, symbolizing the cosmic withdrawal of sustaining elements before dissolution.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames the impermanence of worlds themselves—reinforcing that the soul should seek dharma and liberation rather than relying on any worldly stability.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with detachment and responsibility: prioritize dharma, charity, and spiritual practice, remembering that even the cosmos undergoes change and dissolution.