Shloka 8

Devanagari script

एवं विभज्य राज्यानि दिशां पालान् अनन्तरम् प्रजापतिपतिर् ब्रह्मा स्थापयाम् आस सर्वतः

Transliteration

evaṃ vibhajya rājyāni diśāṃ pālān anantaram prajāpatipatir brahmā sthāpayām āsa sarvataḥ

Translation

Thus, having apportioned the realms, Brahmā—the lord of the Prajāpatis—thereafter established on every side the guardians of the directions.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/रीति-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• विभज्य: having divided/apportioned
• विभज्य: Kriyā (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√भज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• राज्यानि: kingdoms
• राज्यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दिशाम्: of the directions
• दिशाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• पालान्: guardians, protectors
• पालान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• अनन्तरम्: thereafter, immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• प्रजापतिपतिः: the lord of the Prajāpatis
• प्रजापतिपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: प्रजापतेः पति); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• स्थापयाम्: (he) established/appointed
• स्थापयाम्: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative) रूप—‘I established/appointed’

• आस: was/did (auxiliary)
• आस: Kriyā (Auxiliary)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; सहायक-क्रिया (auxiliary with perfect periphrasis)

• सर्वतः: everywhere, on all sides
• सर्वतः: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (Locative adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Ordered creation: apportionment of realms and establishment of directional guardians (diśā-pālas) for cosmic governance

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic order is sustained by delegated governance—Brahmā establishes guardians of the directions after allotting sovereignties.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate dharma through clear roles, responsibility, and protection of one’s sphere without overreach.

Vishishtadvaita: Administrative plurality (many rulers/guardians) operates within a single divinely ordered cosmos ultimately dependent on the Supreme’s will.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Dikpālas (Guardians of the Directions)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Dikpālas (guardians of the directions) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents them as instruments of cosmic order—appointed after the realms are apportioned—so that the universe is governed in a stable, directionally balanced way.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic administration in this creation context?

Parāśara frames creation not only as origination but as organization: Brahmā divides domains and then formally appoints directional guardians to regulate and protect the world-system.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Even when Brahmā is described as appointing rulers, the Vishnu Purana’s theology treats such governance as part of the larger cosmic order ultimately upheld by Vishnu as the Supreme Reality and inner support of all functions.