Shloka 56
ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवा ब्रह्मन् प्रधाना ब्रह्मशक्तयः ततश् च देवा मैत्रेय न्यूना दक्षादयस् ततः
brahmaviṣṇuśivā brahman pradhānā brahmaśaktayaḥ tataś ca devā maitreya nyūnā dakṣādayas tataḥ
O Brāhmaṇa, the foremost powers of Brahman are Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva. From them, O Maitreya, arise the hosts of gods; and after them come the lesser divine orders—beginning with Dakṣa and the rest—emanating in succession.
Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Emanational hierarchy of Brahman’s powers: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, then devas and Prajāpatis like Dakṣa
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: authoritative
Creation Stage: Secondary
Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas
Concept: The highest functional powers within the cosmos—Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva—are principal śaktis operating under the Supreme, from whom further divine orders proceed in sequence.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Honor diverse divine functions without losing sight of the Supreme source; cultivate integrated worship that sees cosmic roles as coordinated under the one Lord.
Vishishtadvaita: Many divine administrators are real and graded, yet dependent—Viṣṇu remains the ultimate jagat-kāraṇa and inner governor of all cosmic offices.
Vishnu Form: Narayana
Jagat Karana: Yes
FAQs
This verse presents them as principal cosmic functions (creation, preservation, dissolution) operating as foremost manifestations/powers within the ordered unfolding of Brahman, establishing a structured theology of governance in creation.
Parāśara describes a sequential emanation: from the primary divine powers arise the devas, and thereafter the subordinate divine orders such as Dakṣa and other progenitors, indicating a graded cosmological descent.
Within the Vishnu Purana’s framework, Viṣṇu is integral to the supreme ordering of reality—cosmic roles and divine beings proceed in a hierarchy that ultimately serves the sustaining sovereignty associated with Viṣṇu.