Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मा सृजत्य् आदिकाले मरीचिप्रमुखास् ततः उत्पादयन्त्य् अपत्यानि जन्तवश् च प्रतिक्षणम्

Transliteration

brahmā sṛjaty ādikāle marīcipramukhās tataḥ utpādayanty apatyāni jantavaś ca pratikṣaṇam

Translation

At the dawn of time Brahmā brings forth creation; thereafter Marīci and the other primordial sages beget progeny, and living beings, moment after moment, continue generation without cease.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सृजति: creates
• सृजति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• आदि-काले: in the beginning time
• आदि-काले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आदौ कालः)

• मरीचि-प्रमुखाः: those headed by Marīci
• मरीचि-प्रमुखाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीचि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मरीचिः प्रमुखः येषाम्)

• ततः: then/from that
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• उत्पादयन्ति: produce, generate
• उत्पादयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + पद्/पादय् (धातु; causative of √pad/√paday)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative)

• अपत्यानि: offspring
• अपत्यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• जन्तवः: creatures
• जन्तवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• प्रतिक्षणम्: at every moment
• प्रतिक्षणम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Mechanism of ongoing creation and progeny-generation after Brahmā’s initial emanation

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Creation begins with Brahmā’s initial projection, and thereafter the Prajāpati-sages and beings perpetually propagate life in a continuous stream.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate nature’s ceaseless generativity as a sign of ordered divine governance rather than randomness.

Vishishtadvaita: The world-process is a real, sustained order within the Lord’s sovereignty, not a merely illusory appearance.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Marīci
• Living beings (Jantus)

FAQs

What is the significance of Brahmā and the Prajāpatis in the Vishnu Purana’s creation account?

This verse frames creation as a delegated, ordered process: Brahmā initiates manifestation, and sages like Marīci propagate lineages, sustaining the world through structured generation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the continuity of creation here?

By using “pratikṣaṇam,” Parāśara emphasizes that creation is not only a first event but an ongoing unfolding—beings continually reproduce, keeping the manifested cosmos active.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the line, the Vishnu Purana’s framework treats Brahmā’s creative activity and the Prajāpatis’ progeny as operating within the supreme, sustaining reality of Vishnu.