Shloka 78

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

Devanagari script

भूर्लोको ऽथ भुवर्लोकः स्वर्लोको मुनिसत्तम महर् जनस् तपः सत्यं सप्तलोकान् इमान् विभुः

Transliteration

bhūrloko 'tha bhuvarlokaḥ svarloko munisattama mahar janas tapaḥ satyaṃ saptalokān imān vibhuḥ

Translation

Bhūrloka, then Bhuvarloka and Svarga—O best of sages—followed by Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka, and Satyaloka: these are the seven worlds, established and pervaded by the all-powerful Lord.

Word by Word

• भूर्लोकः: the earth-world (Bhūrloka)
• भूर्लोकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूः (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (भूः-लोकः = भूर्लोकः)

• अथ: then/and
• अथ: Sambandha/Discourse marker (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक (then/and)

• भुवर्लोकः: the mid-region world (Bhuvarloka)
• भुवर्लोकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवः (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (भुवः-लोकः)

• स्वर्लोकः: the heaven-world (Svarloka)
• स्वर्लोकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वः (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (स्वः-लोकः)

• मुनिसत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनिसत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां सत्तमः)

• महर्: Maharloka
• महर्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्/महः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (वेदिक-रूप: महर्)

• जनः: Janaloka
• जनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (लोकनाम), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रूपम्—जनः (जनस्-शब्दस्य प्रथमा एकवचन)

• तपः: Tapoloka
• तपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सत्यम्: Satyaloka
• सत्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सप्तलोकान्: the seven worlds
• सप्तलोकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—द्विगु (सप्त लोकाः)

• इमान्: these
• इमान्: Visheshana (Qualifier of object/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• विभुः: the all-pervading Lord
• विभुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Cosmic structure: enumeration of the seven lokas and their Lord-established order

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The seven upper worlds are ordered realms upheld and pervaded by the Lord, indicating a theistic ground for cosmological hierarchy.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate the graded cosmos as dependent on the Divine to cultivate humility and steadiness in spiritual practice.

Vishishtadvaita: The worlds are real and structured, yet wholly supported by the Supreme as their inner ruler and ground.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of the seven lokas in the Vishnu Purana?

They present a structured map of reality—from the earthly plane up to Satyaloka—showing graded realms of existence, all upheld by the Supreme Lord (Vibhu/Vishnu).

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic order in this passage?

By enumerating the sapta-lokas in sequence and attributing their very establishment and coherence to Vibhu, Parāśara frames cosmology as an expression of divine sovereignty rather than mere geography.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is implied by the title “Vibhu,” emphasizing Him as the all-pervading Supreme Reality on whom the existence and hierarchy of all worlds depend.