Shloka 131
Pracetās, Māriṣā, Dakṣa’s Re-manifestation, and the Brahma-parastava; Cyclic Creation and Genealogies
विवस्वान् सविता चैव मित्रो वरुण एव च अंशो भगश् चातितेजा आदित्या द्वादश स्मृताः
vivasvān savitā caiva mitro varuṇa eva ca aṃśo bhagaś cātitejā ādityā dvādaśa smṛtāḥ
Vivasvān and Savitṛ, Mitra and Varuṇa; likewise Aṁśa, Bhaga, and the exceedingly radiant one—these are remembered as the Twelve Ādityas.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Classification of devas (Ādityas) and their roles across cosmic administration
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: authoritative
Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas
Concept: Cosmic order is administered through definite divine powers (Ādityas) whose names and functions are remembered in śruti-smṛti tradition.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Contemplate order in nature (sun, seasons, law) as a manifestation of divine governance and cultivate reverence and regularity (niyama).
Vishishtadvaita: The many Ādityas are real distinct powers functioning as modes (prakāra) within the one supreme Lord’s governance.
Vishnu Form: Narayana
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse lists key Ādityas as solar, law-bearing powers who uphold cosmic order, showing how the universe is governed through structured divine functions.
By enumerating the Ādityas, Parāśara presents a taxonomy of ruling deities—each associated with order, radiance, and regulation—within the Purāṇic framework of time and world-structure.
Even when listing subordinate deities, the Vishnu Purana frames them as instruments of universal sovereignty—functions that ultimately operate within the supreme order grounded in Vishnu.