Shloka 1

वाराहावतारः (भूम्युद्धारः) — Varāha, the Raising of the Earth and the Recommencement of Creation

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मा नारायणाख्यो ऽसौ कल्पादौ भगवान् यथा ससर्ज सर्वभूतानि तद् आचक्ष्व महामुने

Transliteration

brahmā nārāyaṇākhyo 'sau kalpādau bhagavān yathā sasarja sarvabhūtāni tad ācakṣva mahāmune

Translation

O great sage, describe to me how, at the dawn of the kalpa, that Blessed Lord—Brahmā, who bears the name Nārāyaṇa—brought forth all beings into manifestation.

Word by Word

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

• नारायणाख्यः: named Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणाख्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘named Nārāyaṇa’)

• असौ: he (that one)
• असौ: Karta (Subject apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन (demonstrative ‘that/he’)

• कल्पादौ: at the beginning of the kalpa
• कल्पादौ: Adhikaraṇa (Time locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘at the beginning of the kalpa’)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; गुणवाचक संज्ञा (honorific noun/adjective used substantively)

• यथा: as, how
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparative/relative adverb/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (indeclinable ‘how/as’)

• ससर्ज: created
• ससर्ज: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — ‘created’

• सर्वभूतानि: all beings
• सर्वभूतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (‘all beings’)

• तत्: that (account)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘that’ (referring to the manner/account)

• आचक्ष्व: tell, explain
• आचक्ष्व: Kriyā (Command/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative); आत्मनेपद; मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन — ‘tell, explain’

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘great sage’)

Speaker

Maitreya (addressing Sage Parāśara)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: How, at the beginning of the kalpa, Brahmā—identified with Nārāyaṇa—created all beings

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: inquisitive, reverent

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Creation begins with Brahmā functioning as the creative agency, yet grounded in and named by Nārāyaṇa, indicating divine immanence within the creator.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Approach study and practice with humble inquiry (praśna) and see all agency as dependent on the Supreme, reducing egoism in action.

Vishishtadvaita: Brahmā’s creative role is presented as inseparable from Nārāyaṇa (nārāyaṇākhya/nārāyaṇa-identity), supporting the doctrine of the Lord as indwelling controller of all selves and powers.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Nārāyaṇa (Vishnu)
• All beings (sarvabhūtāni)

FAQs

What is the significance of Brahmā being called Nārāyaṇa in the Vishnu Purana?

It signals that the creative office of Brahmā operates through the supremacy of Nārāyaṇa—Vishnu as the ultimate ground of creation and authority.

How does Sage Parāśara explain creation at the beginning of a kalpa?

This verse frames Maitreya’s request: Parāśara will narrate the orderly unfolding of beings at kalpa-dawn, presenting creation as a structured emanation under divine sovereignty.

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

Even when Brahmā is the immediate creator, the Purana emphasizes Vishnu/Nārāyaṇa as the Supreme Reality who empowers and underlies the entire creative process.