Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

प्राक्सर्गदग्धान् अखिलान् पर्वतान् पृथिवीतले अमोघेन प्रभावेन ससर्जामोघवाञ्छितः

Transliteration

prāksargadagdhān akhilān parvatān pṛthivītale amoghena prabhāvena sasarjāmoghavāñchitaḥ

Translation

Then, upon the face of the earth, he re-created all the mountains scorched in the former cycle; by his unfailing power, the One whose will is never fruitless brought them forth again exactly as intended.

Word by Word

• प्राक्: previously, before
• प्राक्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb: 'before/previously')

• सर्ग: creation
• सर्ग: Samāsa-pūrvapada (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपद-रूपे (as prior member in compound); अर्थः 'creation'

• दग्धान्: burnt
• दग्धान्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दह् (धातु) → दग्ध (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• प्राक्सर्गदग्धान्: burnt in the previous creation
• प्राक्सर्गदग्धान्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राक् + सर्ग + दग्ध (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पूर्वसर्गे दग्धान् = 'burnt in the previous creation'); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (parvatān)

• अखिलान्: all, entire
• अखिलान्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• पर्वतान्: mountains
• पर्वतान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• पृथिवीतले: on the surface of the earth
• पृथिवीतले: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पृथिव्याः तलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अमोघेन: unfailing
• अमोघेन: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमोघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (प्रभावेन)

• प्रभावेन: by (his) power, influence
• प्रभावेन: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• ससर्ज: created, produced
• ससर्ज: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अमोघवाञ्छितः: whose desire is unfailing / of unfailing will
• अमोघवाञ्छितः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमोघ + वाञ्छित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (अमोघं वाञ्छितं यस्य/अमोघं वाञ्छितम्); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Process of creation after prior cycle; re-manifestation of earth features

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s unfailing will (amogha-saṅkalpa) re-manifests the scorched forms of the world in each cycle according to an ordained pattern.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate cyclical renewal to cultivate steadiness and trust in cosmic order amid change.

Vishishtadvaita: Vishnu’s sovereign will governs the re-embodiment of names-and-forms without compromising His transcendence.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Earth (Pṛthivī)
• Mountains (Parvata)

FAQs

What is the significance of re-creating the mountains in the Vishnu Purana?

It illustrates pratisarga—cosmic restoration after dissolution—showing that the world’s structures reappear through the Lord’s orderly, unfailing power rather than through chance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the concept of “amogha” (unfailing) power here?

By describing creation as proceeding through an “amogha prabhāva,” Parāśara emphasizes that the divine will is effective without obstruction—what the Lord intends manifests in the cosmos.

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

Vishnu is presented as the supreme sovereign cause whose intention (saṅkalpa) is never frustrated, grounding creation and restoration in a single, dependable Supreme Reality central to Vaishnava philosophy.