Shloka 4

Naimittika and Prākṛtika Pralaya

Periodic and Primordial Dissolution

Devanagari script

विष्णुर्दहेत्त्रिलोकञ्चि मुखान्मेघान् सृजत्यलम् / वर्षन्ते वै वर्षशतं नानावर्णा महाघनाः

Transliteration

viṣṇurdahettrilokañci mukhānmeghān sṛjatyalam / varṣante vai varṣaśataṃ nānāvarṇā mahāghanāḥ

Translation

Viṣṇu burns the three worlds, and from His mouth He abundantly brings forth clouds; those great, massive clouds of many hues then pour rain for a hundred years.

Word by Word

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

• दहेत्: would burn/burns
• दहेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् (contextually narrative/prophetic)

• त्रि-लोकम्: the three worlds
• त्रि-लोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुखात्: from (his) mouth
• मुखात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; अपादान (source)

• मेघान्: clouds
• मेघान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्म

• सृजति: creates/sends forth
• सृजति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अलम्: abundantly
• अलम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverb); पर्याप्त्यर्थे 'enough/abundantly'

• वर्षन्ते: rain
• वर्षन्ते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; emphasis/assurance)

• वर्ष-शतम्: for a hundred years
• वर्ष-शतम्: Karma (Extent/कर्म-प्रवृत्तिनिमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; काल-परिमाण (duration as object/extent)

• नाना-वर्णाः: of various colors
• नाना-वर्णाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (महाघनाः)

• महा-घनाः: great dense clouds
• महा-घनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्ता

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pralaya proceeds by ordered phases—conflagration followed by deluge; elements arise and subside under īśvara’s control.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as nimitta/upādāna in cosmic processes; cyclic manifestation and withdrawal; reassurance of order within apparent chaos.

Application: Cultivate trust in cosmic order and practice equanimity; interpret upheavals as phases, not ultimate reality; deepen devotion to the governing Lord.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: pralaya sequence—fire then clouds/rain (general cosmology passages)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Triloka
• Clouds

FAQs

What is the importance of cosmic dissolution (pralaya) in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Vishnu as the divine regulator of the cosmos—initiating dissolution through fire and then restoring balance through prolonged rains, illustrating cyclical time and divine governance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames individual afterlife teachings within a larger cosmic order: just as worlds undergo dissolution and renewal under Vishnu, embodied beings also pass through endings and transitions governed by dharma and divine law.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Contemplate impermanence and live dharmically: recognizing that even worlds change encourages ethical conduct, detachment from excess, and steady devotion to the sustaining divine principle.