Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

अग्न्यन्तकादिरूपेण भागेनान्येन वर्तते कालस्वरूपो भागो ऽन्यः सर्वभूतानि चापरः

Transliteration

agnyantakādirūpeṇa bhāgenānyena vartate kālasvarūpo bhāgo 'nyaḥ sarvabhūtāni cāparaḥ

Translation

By another portion He abides as Agni and Antaka (Death). Another portion stands as Time itself, and yet another is the totality of all beings.

Word by Word

• agni-antaka-ādi-rūpeṇa: by the form of Agni, Antaka, etc.
• agni-antaka-ādi-rūpeṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + antaka (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः (agni-antaka-ādi = द्वन्द्व/तत्पुरुष-समुच्चयार्थ, ततः तत्पुरुष: agnyantakādirūpa)

• bhāgena: by a portion
• bhāgena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• anyena: by another
• anyena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (bhāgena)

• vartate: exists/operates
• vartate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• kāla-svarūpaḥ: having the nature/form of Time
• kāla-svarūpaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + sva-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kālasya svarūpaḥ) विशेषण (bhāgaḥ)

• bhāgaḥ: portion
• bhāgaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• anyaḥ: another
• anyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (bhāgaḥ)

• sarvabhūtāni: all beings
• sarvabhūtāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (sarvāṇi bhūtāni)

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

• aparaḥ: another
• aparaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (bhāgaḥ implied)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the Lord’s portions operate as Agni, Death (Antaka), Time, and the totality of beings

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord functions through distinct portions as cosmic fire, as death, as time, and as the aggregate of beings—integrating destruction and existence within one sovereignty.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Meditate on mortality and impermanence to deepen surrender and ethical urgency.

Vishishtadvaita: Multiplicity of cosmic functions is grounded in one Supreme Person whose modes (aṃśas) are real yet dependent—unity-in-diversity.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Antaka (Death/Yama)
• Kāla (Time)
• Sarvabhūtāni (all beings)
• Vishnu (implied Supreme pervader)

FAQs

What is the significance of Time (Kāla) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Time as a divine aspect—an expression of the Supreme’s governance—through which cosmic change, decay, and order proceed.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Supreme’s presence in destructive forces like fire and death?

He frames Agni (fire) and Antaka (death) not as independent powers but as divine modes—‘portions’ through which the Supreme carries out dissolution and transformation.

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

Vishnu is implied as the all-pervading Supreme Reality whose aspects include Time, death, and the entirety of beings—supporting a theistic vision where the world is real and grounded in Him.