Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

त्वं कर्ता सर्वभूतानां त्वं पाता त्वं विनाशकृत् सर्गादिषु प्रभो ब्रह्मविष्णुरुद्रात्मरूपधृक्

Transliteration

tvaṃ kartā sarvabhūtānāṃ tvaṃ pātā tvaṃ vināśakṛt sargādiṣu prabho brahmaviṣṇurudrātmarūpadhṛk

Translation

You are the maker of all beings; You are their protector; You are the agent of dissolution. O Lord, in creation and the other cosmic functions, You assume the inner form of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra.

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद्/त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• कर्ता: creator, doer
• कर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्तरि कृदन्त (तृच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Agent noun nominative singular

• सर्वभूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वभूतानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सर्वाणि भूतानि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद्/त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• पाता: protector
• पाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पा (धातु) → पातृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्तरि कृदन्त (तृच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Agent noun nominative singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद्/त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• विनाशकृत्: destroyer
• विनाशकृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनाश + कृ (धातु) → कृत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विनाशं करोति), कर्तरि कृदन्त (क्विप्/कृत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Agent noun nominative singular

• सर्गादिषु: in creation and the rest (processes)
• सर्गादिषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्ग-आदि: 'creation etc.'), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; Locative plural

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• ब्रह्मविष्णुरुद्रात्मरूपधृक्: bearer of the forms whose selves are Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra
• ब्रह्मविष्णुरुद्रात्मरूपधृक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + विष्णु + रुद्र + आत्मन् + रूप + धृ (धातु) → धृक् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्म-विष्णु-रुद्र-आत्म-रूपं धारयति), कर्तरि कृदन्त (क्विप्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Agent noun nominative singular

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instructive narration to Maitreya, within a hymn-like description of the Supreme Lord)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the one Lord performs creation, preservation, and dissolution through Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra functions

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Kalpa

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The one Lord is the creator, protector, and dissolver of beings, assuming the inner forms (ātma-rūpas) of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra for cosmic functions.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: See diverse divine functions as coordinated under one Supreme; this steadies worship and reduces sectarian fragmentation in practice.

Vishishtadvaita: Establishes a unified theism: multiple deities and functions are real yet dependent modes/ministrations of the Supreme Nārāyaṇa as inner ruler.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Rudra (Shiva)

FAQs

What is the significance of Brahmā–Viṣṇu–Rudra in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents the Trimūrti functions—creation, preservation, and dissolution—as expressions of one Supreme Lord, who takes on Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Rudra forms for cosmic governance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain creation and destruction here?

Parāśara frames them as divine roles: the same Lord is the creator of beings, their protector, and the one who brings about dissolution, indicating a single ultimate agency behind all cosmic phases.

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

Viṣṇu is affirmed as the transcendent source who manifests as the operative powers of Brahmā and Rudra as well, aligning with Vaiṣṇava theology that the Supreme governs all cosmic cycles.