Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

तोयान्तः स महीं ज्ञात्वा जगत्य् एकार्णवे प्रभुः अनुमानात् तदुद्धारं कर्तुकामः प्रजापतिः

Transliteration

toyāntaḥ sa mahīṃ jñātvā jagaty ekārṇave prabhuḥ anumānāt taduddhāraṃ kartukāmaḥ prajāpatiḥ

Translation

Knowing that the Earth had sunk beneath the waters, and seeing the whole world become a single ocean, the Lord Prajāpati resolved—by inference discerning her whereabouts—to raise her up again.

Word by Word

• तोय: in water
• तोय: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (समासे पूर्वपद)

• अन्तः: within
• अन्तः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; (समासान्त-रूपेण) — 'inside/within'

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

• महीम्: the earth
• महीम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) — 'having known'

• जगति: in the world
• जगति: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• एक: single
• एक: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (समासे पूर्वपद)

• अर्णवे: in the ocean
• अर्णवे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अनुमानात्: by inference
• अनुमानात्: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे — 'from inference/by inference'

• तत्: of that (earth)
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (समासे पूर्वपद)

• उद्धारम्: uplifting, rescue
• उद्धारम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कर्तुकामः: wishing to do
• कर्तुकामः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (infinitive) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तुमुनन्त-समासः (कर्तुम् कामः) — 'desirous to do'

• प्रजापतिः: Prajāpati
• प्रजापतिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजानां पतिः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the Lord (through Prajāpati/Brahmā) proceeds to recover the Earth and resume creation.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Varaha

Purpose: To lift the Earth from the cosmic waters and re-establish the world for renewed creation.

Leela: Loka-rakshana (world-protection)

Dharma Restored: Restoration of the Earth as the support for beings and the orderly arrangement of creation.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When cosmic order is disrupted (Earth submerged), the Lord’s providence initiates restoration, ensuring the conditions for life and dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: In disorder and uncertainty, cultivate confidence in divine governance and act with discernment toward restoration of order in one’s sphere.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhūmi is upheld and rescued by the Supreme: the world is a real dependent entity (śeṣa) sustained by the Lord (śeṣin).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi (earth)

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati
• Earth (Prithivi/Bhumi)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Earth being in the 'ekārṇava' (single ocean) in the Vishnu Purana?

It signals pralaya-like dissolution, where differentiated worlds are withdrawn into waters, setting the stage for the Lord’s act of restoration and re-ordering of creation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Lord’s method here—'anumānāt' (by inference)?

Parāśara portrays the Lord as consciously discerning the Earth’s hidden position beneath the waters and then choosing to act—emphasizing purposeful, intelligent sovereignty rather than random cosmic change.

What is the theological importance of the Lord being called 'Prajāpati' in this context?

Calling him Prajāpati highlights Vishnu’s role as the supreme governor of beings and cosmic order—the one who not only creates but also preserves and restores the world after inundation.