Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

विनाशं कुर्वतस् तस्य चतुर्धैवं महात्मनः विभागकल्पना ब्रह्मन् कथ्यते सार्वकालिकी

Transliteration

vināśaṃ kurvatas tasya caturdhaivaṃ mahātmanaḥ vibhāgakalpanā brahman kathyate sārvakālikī

Translation

O Brahmin, when that great-souled Lord brings about dissolution, the teaching of His fourfold division is declared an eternal principle, true for all times.

Word by Word

• विनाशम्: destruction
• विनाशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कुर्वतः: of (him) doing/causing
• कुर्वतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमाने कृदन्तः (शतृ-प्रत्यय, वर्तमानकाले), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Present active participle (śatṛ), Genitive, Singular

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Pronoun, Genitive, Singular

• चतुर्धा: fourfold
• चतुर्धा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर्धा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण; Indeclinable adverb (manner)

• एवम्: thus/indeed
• एवम्: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/निश्चयवाचक; Indeclinable particle/adverb

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• विभागकल्पना: the conception of division
• विभागकल्पना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभाग-कल्पना (प्रातिपदिक; विभाग + कल्पना)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• कथ्यते: is stated/told
• कथ्यते: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, कर्मणि-प्रयोग, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present tense, Passive voice, 3rd person, Singular

• सार्वकालिकी: applicable at all times
• सार्वकालिकी: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सार्वकालिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular (agreeing with विभागकल्पना)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in discourse to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Fourfold division (caturdhā vibhāga) of the Lord as an eternal principle, especially in relation to dissolution

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s fourfold functional division is a timeless doctrinal framework that operates even when He brings about dissolution.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate change and endings as governed by divine order rather than randomness, cultivating steadiness in adversity.

Vishishtadvaita: Vishnu remains the transcendent ruler while expressing immanent functional modes (vibhāgas) that govern cosmic processes.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Vyuha Form: Vasudeva

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Vishnu (implied as the Mahātman who governs dissolution)

FAQs

What is the significance of the “fourfold division” during dissolution in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames dissolution as an ordered, fourfold principle rather than chaos—an enduring structure through which the Lord withdraws the cosmos in a regulated way.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the permanence of cosmic law in this context?

By calling the doctrine sārvakālikī, Parāśara emphasizes that the pattern governing dissolution is timeless and recurs across cycles of creation and withdrawal.

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

Vishnu is implied as the supreme governor whose will and order preside even over destruction, reinforcing a Vaishnava view of the cosmos as sustained by a highest, intelligent reality.