Shloka 26

Cosmic Appointments, Viṣṇu’s Vibhūtis, Fourfold Operation, and the Symbolism of Ornaments and Weapons

Devanagari script

आश्रित्य तमसो वृत्तिम् अन्तकाले तथा प्रभुः रुद्रस्वरूपी भगवान् एकांशेन भवत्य् अजः

Transliteration

āśritya tamaso vṛttim antakāle tathā prabhuḥ rudrasvarūpī bhagavān ekāṃśena bhavaty ajaḥ

Translation

At the time of dissolution, the Sovereign Lord takes on the mode of tamas. Though unborn, Bhagavān becomes Rudra in form, manifesting by a single portion of Himself.

Word by Word

• āśritya: having resorted to
• āśritya: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√śri (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), अव्यय

• tamasaḥ: of tamas (darkness)
• tamasaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• vṛttim: function/activity
• vṛttim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• antakāle: at the end-time
• antakāle: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (antasya kālaḥ)

• tathā: thus/then
• tathā: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• prabhuḥ: the Lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• rudra-svarūpī: having Rudra as (his) form
• rudra-svarūpī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक) + sva-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (rudrasya svarūpam yasya) विशेषण (prabhuḥ/bhagavān/ajaḥ)

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ekāṃśena: by one portion
• ekāṃśena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ekasya aṃśaḥ)

• bhavati: becomes/is
• bhavati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ajaḥ: the Unborn
• ajaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in discourse to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the unborn Lord assumes tamas and the Rudra-function at the end-time for dissolution

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: At dissolution the unborn Lord adopts the tamasic mode and manifests as Rudra to complete the reabsorption of the cosmos.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Reflect on endings as part of cosmic order, fostering detachment and reverence rather than fear.

Vishishtadvaita: Rudra is presented as a functional manifestation (aṃśa) of the one Lord, preserving Viṣṇu’s supremacy while accommodating plurality of deities.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Rudra (Śiva-form)
• Tamas (guṇa)

FAQs

What is the significance of Rudra being described as an ‘ekāṃśa’ (a portion) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Rudra’s dissolving function as a partial manifestation of the Supreme Lord, emphasizing that cosmic dissolution proceeds under Vishnu’s sovereignty while allowing Rudra a defined role within the divine order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of tamas at the end of a cosmic cycle?

Parāśara presents tamas as the operative mode assumed at pralaya: the Lord ‘resorts to’ tamas to withdraw forms and functions, expressing dissolution through the Rudra-form.

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

Vishnu is upheld as the unborn Supreme Reality who freely adopts guṇas and forms without being bound by them—governing even dissolution by manifesting as Rudra through a portion of His own power.