Shloka 1

Devanagari script

यथा ससर्ज देवो ऽसौ देवर्षिपितृदानवान् मनुष्यतिर्यग्वृक्षादीन् भूव्योमसलिलौकसः

Transliteration

yathā sasarja devo 'sau devarṣipitṛdānavān manuṣyatiryagvṛkṣādīn bhūvyomasalilaukasaḥ

Translation

Now hear how that very Lord brought forth creation: the gods, the divine seer-sages, the Fathers (Pitṛs) and the Dānavas; and also humans, animals, and trees—indeed all who dwell upon the earth, in the heavens, and in the waters.

Word by Word

• यथा: as, in the manner that
• यथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकार/उपमानवाचक-सम्बन्धबोधक (indeclinable; manner/comparison marker)

• ससर्ज: created, brought forth
• ससर्ज: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्

• देवः: the god (the Lord)
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st); एकवचनम्

• असौ: that (one), he
• असौ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्गः; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (demonstrative pronoun)

• देवर्षिपितृदानवान्: gods, sages, ancestors, and demons
• देवर्षिपितृदानवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्वः; पुंलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd); बहुवचनम्

• मनुष्यतिर्यग्वृक्षादीन्: humans, animals, trees, and the rest
• मनुष्यतिर्यग्वृक्षादीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तिर्यञ्च् (प्रातिपदिक) + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (with आदि as ‘etc.’); पुंलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम्

• भूव्योमसलिलौकसः: those dwelling on earth, in sky, and in water
• भूव्योमसलिलौकसः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक) + व्योमन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सलिल (प्रातिपदिक) + ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (locative-dwelling sense: ‘having abode in’); पुंलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord is the universal cause who brings forth all classes of beings across all realms.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate the unity of life under one divine origin to cultivate reverence and non-harm.

Vishishtadvaita: All beings and realms are real modes (prakāra) dependent on the Supreme who is their inner ground and efficient cause.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devarshi
• Pitrs
• Danavas
• Humans
• Animals
• Trees

FAQs

What is the significance of classifying beings as dwellers of earth, sky, and waters in the Vishnu Purana?

It presents creation as a complete cosmic order, mapping all life into a universal taxonomy under the Lord’s sovereignty—terrestrial, celestial, and aquatic realms together forming a single, governed cosmos.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the act of creation here?

He frames creation as the Lord’s deliberate emanation of multiple orders of beings—divine, ancestral, demonic, human, animal, and vegetal—showing that all categories arise from one supreme source.

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

Vishnu is implied as the supreme cause who manifests and orders all realms of existence, reinforcing Vaishnava cosmology where the universe is dependent on the Lord for its origin and structure.