Shloka 29

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मा दक्षादयः कालस् तथैवाखिलजन्तवः विभूतयो हरेर् एता जगतः सृष्टिहेतवः

Transliteration

brahmā dakṣādayaḥ kālas tathaivākhilajantavaḥ vibhūtayo harer etā jagataḥ sṛṣṭihetavaḥ

Translation

Brahmā, Dakṣa and the other progenitors, Time itself, and all living beings—these are the vibhūtis of Hari, the causes through which the universe’s creation comes to pass.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दक्षादयः: Dakṣa and others
• दक्षादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; दक्ष + आदि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कालः: Time
• कालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Coordination (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक; Indeclinable adverb/particle

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक निपात; Indeclinable emphatic particle

• अखिलजन्तवः: all creatures
• अखिलजन्तवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल-जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक; अखिल + जन्तु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विभूतयः: manifestations/powers
• विभूतयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• हरेः: of Hari (Vishnu)
• हरेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• एताः: these
• एताः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally, Feminine, Nominative, Plural (agreeing with विभूतयः)

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• सृष्टिहेतवः: causes of creation
• सृष्टिहेतवः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि-हेतु (प्रातिपदिक; सृष्टि + हेतु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How Brahma, Prajapatis, Time, and beings function as Hari’s vibhutis in creation

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahmā, the Prajāpatis such as Dakṣa, Kāla, and all beings are Hari’s manifested powers that serve as instrumental causes for the universe’s creation.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: See all capacities—time, leadership, creativity—as entrusted powers; act responsibly as an instrument rather than an autonomous doer.

Vishishtadvaita: The world’s plurality (beings, time, creators) is real yet dependent as the Lord’s vibhūti—His body/mode—while He remains the supreme cause.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari)
• Brahma
• Daksha
• Kala (Time)
• All beings (Jantus)

FAQs

What is the significance of calling Brahmā, Time, and all beings 'vibhūtis' in the Vishnu Purana?

It frames them as dependent manifestations of Hari—real and functional within the cosmos, yet grounded in Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty as the ultimate source of creation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the mechanism of creation in this context?

Parāśara presents creation as occurring through Vishnu’s manifested powers: Brahmā and progenitors generate forms, Time orders change, and beings populate the world—each operating as an instrument of Hari.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is affirmed as the foundational cause behind all secondary causes—Brahmā, Prajāpatis, and Time—supporting a Vaishnava view where the Supreme governs creation through empowered agencies.