Shloka 119

Pracetās, Māriṣā, Dakṣa’s Re-manifestation, and the Brahma-parastava; Cyclic Creation and Genealogies

Devanagari script

विश्वकर्मा महाभागस् तस्यां जज्ञे प्रजापतिः कर्ता शिल्पसहस्राणां त्रिदशानां च वार्द्धकिः

Transliteration

viśvakarmā mahābhāgas tasyāṃ jajñe prajāpatiḥ kartā śilpasahasrāṇāṃ tridaśānāṃ ca vārddhakiḥ

Translation

From her was born the greatly illustrious Viśvakarmā, the Prajāpati—maker of a thousand arts—who became the master-builder and architect of the gods.

Word by Word

• विश्वकर्मा: Viśvakarmā
• विश्वकर्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) एकवचन; संज्ञा (Viśvakarmā)

• महाभागः: greatly fortunate
• महाभागः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान् भागः यस्य/महाभागः); विशेषण

• तस्याम्: in her
• तस्याम्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी) एकवचन; अधिकरण (in her)

• जज्ञे: was born
• जज्ञे: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd person) एकवचन; ‘was born’

• प्रजापतिः: Prajāpati
• प्रजापतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रजानां पतिः); कर्ता/अप्पोजिशन

• कर्ता: maker
• कर्ता: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत् (धातु) + तृच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक कृदन्त (agent noun/तृच्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विधेय (maker)

• शिल्पसहस्राणाम्: of thousands of crafts
• शिल्पसहस्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिल्प + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी) बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शिल्पाणां सहस्राणि); सम्बन्ध

• त्रिदशानाम्: of the gods
• त्रिदशानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी) बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (of the gods)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• वार्द्धकिः: the artisan (Vārddhaki)
• वार्द्धकिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्द्धकि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) एकवचन; संज्ञा/व्यवसायवाचक (artisan/carpenter)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Progeny of divine couples and their functional roles in cosmic administration.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic order includes specialized divine functions—Viśvakarmā embodies the ordering intelligence of form, proportion, and construction.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat skill and craftsmanship as sacred responsibility—precision, integrity, and service-minded excellence.

Vishishtadvaita: The world’s structured beauty and function are meaningful within the Lord’s governance; arts become a mode of participating in divine order

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Śilpa as loka-sevā (craft in service of cosmic order)

Key Kings: Viśvakarmā

Characters & Entities

• Viśvakarmā
• Prajāpati
• Tridaśa (Devas)

FAQs

What is the significance of Viśvakarmā in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse identifies Viśvakarmā as a Prajāpati and the divine architect, establishing sacred craftsmanship as an ordained cosmic function within creation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the ordering of creation here?

By listing births and roles—such as Viśvakarmā as maker and builder for the gods—Parāśara shows creation as structured through progenitors (Prajāpatis) who administer distinct domains.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when the verse names subordinate creators like Prajāpatis, the Purana’s framework treats such powers as dependent—functioning within the sovereignty of Vishnu as the ultimate ground of cosmic order.