Shloka 58

Devanagari script

वारिवह्न्यनिलाकाशैस् ततो भूतादिना बहिः वृतं दशगुणैर् अण्डं भूतादिर् महता तथा

Transliteration

vārivahnyanilākāśais tato bhūtādinā bahiḥ vṛtaṃ daśaguṇair aṇḍaṃ bhūtādir mahatā tathā

Translation

Then the cosmic Egg was enclosed outwardly by water, fire, wind, and ether; and beyond these it was encircled by Bhūtādi (the principle of the elements), each sheath tenfold greater than the one within—Bhūtādi itself being likewise encompassed by Mahat (the Great Principle).

Word by Word

• वारि: water
• वारि: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचनार्थे समासाङ्ग (compound member; ‘by water’)

• वह्नि: fire
• वह्नि: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचनार्थे समासाङ्ग (compound member; ‘by fire’)

• अनिल: wind
• अनिल: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचनार्थे समासाङ्ग (compound member; ‘by wind’)

• आकाशैः: by ether/space
• आकाशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; (पूर्वपद-सहितः: वारिवह्न्यनिलाकाशैः)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-प्रभव (indeclinable ‘then/thereafter/from that’)

• भूतादिना: by Bhūtādi (the principle beginning with elements)
• भूतादिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrumental singular; ‘by bhūtādi’)

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (indeclinable adverb ‘outside’)

• वृतम्: covered/enclosed
• वृतम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु) → वृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि (past participle; ‘covered/enclosed’)

• दशगुणैः: by tenfold (factors/layers)
• दशगुणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental plural; ‘by tenfold layers/qualities’)

• अण्डम्: the cosmic egg
• अण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि कर्तृस्थानी (subject of passive/participial predication)

• भूतादिः: Bhūtādi
• भूतादिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• महता: by the great (Mahat)
• महता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (instrumental singular adjective)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (indeclinable ‘thus/likewise’)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: What are the elemental and tattvic coverings of the cosmic egg, and how are they proportioned

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: technical

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The brahmāṇḍa is wrapped by successive elemental sheaths and subtler principles (bhūtādi, mahat), each outer layer expanding tenfold—mapping the graded emanation of prakṛti.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Reflect on graded causality: trace experience from gross elements to subtler conditions of mind and ego, and cultivate detachment from the outermost layers.

Vishishtadvaita: Acknowledges real tattva-gradations as the Lord’s ordered manifestation, while implying the Lord’s supremacy over prakṛti and its evolutes.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Brahmāṇḍa (Cosmic Egg)
• Ākāśa
• Vāyu (Anila)
• Agni (Vahni)
• Āpas (Vāri)

FAQs

What is the significance of the tenfold (daśaguṇa) coverings of the cosmic egg in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents the universe as a layered, ordered structure where each successive sheath is ten times vaster, emphasizing a graded cosmology and the vastness of creation as it unfolds from subtler to grosser principles.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of Bhūtādi and Mahat in creation?

Parāśara places Bhūtādi as an outer principle connected with the emergence of the elements, and states that even Bhūtādi is encompassed by Mahat, indicating a hierarchy where Mahat is more fundamental and expansive in the cosmic sequence.

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

Though not named in this specific verse, the Vishnu Purana frames these tattvas and cosmic layers as operating under the sovereignty of Vishnu as the Supreme Reality, making cosmology a description of ordered manifestation dependent on the highest Lord.