Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

ततः क्षितिं समां कृत्वा पृथिव्यां सो ऽचिनोद् गिरीन् यथाविभागं भगवान् अनादिः सर्वसंभवः

Transliteration

tataḥ kṣitiṃ samāṃ kṛtvā pṛthivyāṃ so 'cinod girīn yathāvibhāgaṃ bhagavān anādiḥ sarvasaṃbhavaḥ

Translation

Then, having made the face of the earth even and well-set, He arranged the mountains upon the world according to their proper divisions—He, the Blessed Lord, beginningless and the source from whom all beings arise.

Word by Word

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Kāla (Temporal/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदर्थे अव्यय (ablatival adverb: thereafter/from that)

• क्षितिम्: the earth
• क्षितिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समाम्: level; even
• समाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (क्षितिम्)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having made/done’

• पृथिव्याम्: on the earth
• पृथिव्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अचिनोत्: he piled up; he arranged
• अचिनोत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √चि (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गिरीन्: mountains
• गिरीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• यथाविभागम्: according to proper distribution
• यथाविभागम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverb: according to division)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अनादिः: beginningless
• अनादिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भगवान्)

• सर्वसंभवः: source of all; all-originating
• सर्वसंभवः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + संभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वस्य संभवः/सर्वतः संभवः); विशेषणम् (भगवान्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the Lord structured the earth after rescuing it—levelling land and placing mountains by division.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Avatara Context

Avatara: Varaha

Purpose: To re-level the earth and establish the mountain ranges in their proper divisions, completing the restoration of terrestrial order.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Ordered terrestrial geography enabling the distribution of regions and the functioning of beings’ duties and livelihoods.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The beginningless Lord, source of all, not only rescues but also organizes the world—levelling land and assigning mountains according to proper divisions.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Value ‘order’ as a spiritual principle: structure one’s life (time, duties, ethics) so that inner terrain becomes fit for devotion and knowledge.

Vishishtadvaita: ‘Anādiḥ sarva-saṃbhavaḥ’ supports Viśiṣṭādvaita: the world arises from Him (as His mode), while He remains the supreme, purposeful organizer.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Bhagavan (the Supreme Lord)
• Earth (Kṣiti/Pṛthivī)
• Mountains (Giri)

FAQs

What is the significance of arranging the mountains “according to proper divisions” in the Vishnu Purana?

It presents creation as an ordered, intelligible cosmos—geography and structure are not accidental but established by the Supreme Lord as part of dharmic universal order.

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

Parāśara describes the Lord first stabilizing and leveling the earth, then assigning features like mountains in their appropriate places, emphasizing purposeful design within Sarga (primary creation).

What is the theological importance of calling the Lord “anādiḥ sarvasaṃbhavaḥ” here?

It affirms Vishnu as beginningless and the ultimate source of all beings—creation proceeds from His sovereign will and sustaining power, aligning with Vaishnava metaphysics of the Supreme Reality.