Shloka 53

वासुदेवस्वरूपनिरूपणं—सर्गक्रमश्च

Vāsudeva’s Nature and the Ordered Process of Creation

Devanagari script

पुरुषाधिष्ठितत्वाच् च अव्यक्तानुग्रहेण च महदाद्या विशेषान्ता ह्य् अण्डम् उत्पादयन्ति ते

Transliteration

puruṣādhiṣṭhitatvāc ca avyaktānugraheṇa ca mahadādyā viśeṣāntā hy aṇḍam utpādayanti te

Translation

Presided over by Puruṣa, and sanctioned by the Unmanifest (Avyakta), those principles—from Mahat to the particularized elements—bring forth the cosmic egg (Brahmāṇḍa).

Word by Word

• पुरुषाधिष्ठितत्वात्: because of being presided over by Puruṣa
• पुरुषाधिष्ठितत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिष्ठित (√स्था/√ष्ठा धातु-निष्पन्न कृदन्त) + त्व (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पुरुषेण अधिष्ठितं तत्त्वं/भावः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अव्यक्तानुग्रहेण: by the favor of the Unmanifest (Avyakta)
• अव्यक्तानुग्रहेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अव्यक्तस्य अनुग्रहः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महत्: Mahat (the Great principle)
• महत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘आद्याः’ इत्यस्य पूर्वपदम् (समासे)

• आद्याः: beginning with
• आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘महत्’ इत्यादि-समूहवाचक विशेषणम्

• विशेषान्ताः: ending with the viśeṣas
• विशेषान्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विशेषः अन्तः येषाम्)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अण्डम्: cosmic egg
• अण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्पादयन्ति: produce, generate
• उत्पादयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पद्/√पादय् (धातु; causative of √पद्/√पद् ‘to bring forth’) उपसर्ग-उत्
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

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

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the tattvas produce the brahmāṇḍa under Puruṣa and Avyakta

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The tattvas from Mahat to the particularized elements generate the cosmic egg only when presided over by Puruṣa and sanctioned by the Unmanifest.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: See all causality as dependent on divine oversight; cultivate humility and devotion while engaging in worldly action.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord is both transcendent Puruṣa and indwelling controller who empowers prakṛti—supporting qualified non-dualism rather than independent material causation.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣa
• Viśeṣas
• Brahmāṇḍa (Cosmic Egg)

FAQs

What is the significance of the cosmic egg (Brahmāṇḍa) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse states that the Brahmāṇḍa arises when the evolving principles (from Mahat to the gross particulars) are empowered by the Unmanifest and presided over by Puruṣa—showing creation as both a material process and a divinely governed emergence.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the link between Puruṣa and Avyakta in creation?

Parāśara presents manifestation as impossible without two factors: the presiding presence of Puruṣa (conscious sovereignty) and the sanction of Avyakta (the unmanifest material ground), together enabling the tattvas to generate the cosmos.

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

Although Vishnu is not named explicitly here, the Purāṇic teaching frames the supreme presiding reality (Puruṣa) as the ultimate governor of cosmic evolution, aligning creation with Vaishnava doctrine that the universe unfolds under the Supreme’s oversight.