Shloka 15

सर्गभेदाः — अविद्या, स्रोतोभेदाः, नव सर्गाः, देवासुरादिसृष्टिः, वेद-यज्ञप्रादुर्भावः

Devanagari script

ततो ऽन्यं स तदा दध्यौ साधकं सर्गम् उत्तमम् असाधकांस् तु ताञ् ज्ञात्वा मुख्यसर्गादिसंभवान्

Transliteration

tato 'nyaṃ sa tadā dadhyau sādhakaṃ sargam uttamam asādhakāṃs tu tāñ jñātvā mukhyasargādisaṃbhavān

Translation

Then, knowing those earlier emanations—arising from the primary creation and its first stages—to be incapable of fulfilling the purpose, he contemplated another, superior creation: a ‘sādhaka’ sarga, truly able to accomplish the cosmic aim.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/हेतुबोधक (thereupon)

• अन्यम्: another
• अन्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (सर्गम् इति कर्मपदस्य)

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

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then/at that time)

• दध्यौ: he meditated, he contemplated
• दध्यौ: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद—‘meditated/thought’

• साधकम्: accomplishing, effective
• साधकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (सर्गम्)

• सर्गम्: creation
• सर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: best, excellent
• उत्तमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (सर्गम्)

• असाधकान्: ineffective (ones)
• असाधकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष—‘non-accomplishing’

• तु: but, however
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेष/विरोधार्थक

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriya (Subordinate action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञात्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक—‘having known/recognized’

• मुख्यसर्गादिसंभवान्: arisen from the primary creation and the like
• मुख्यसर्गादिसंभवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘मुख्यसर्ग-आदि-सम्भव’ = arising from the primary creation etc.; विशेषण (तान्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Why earlier emanations are asādhaka and how Brahmā proceeds toward a sādhaka (purpose-fulfilling) creation

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahmā, recognizing certain products of the primary unfolding as asādhaka, turns toward a higher, sādhaka sarga that can fulfill the cosmic aim of ordered manifestation.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When a practice yields no real transformation, revise it with clarity and higher intention—aim for what is genuinely sādhaka rather than merely habitual.

Vishishtadvaita: Teleology (prayojana) in creation: the Lord’s ordered cosmos unfolds through Brahmā as instrument, moving from mere emergence to meaningful, dharma-supporting manifestation.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of a “sādhaka sarga” (purpose-fulfilling creation) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights that creation unfolds in stages, and when earlier emanations do not fulfill the intended cosmic function, a more effective, ordered creation is contemplated to establish a workable universe.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the shift from earlier creations to a superior creation?

Parāśara frames it as discernment within the creation-process: recognizing earlier products of the primary/initial creation as inadequate, the creator-mind turns toward a higher, more successful phase of sarga.

What is Lord Vishnu’s theological importance in this context?

Even when Brahmā is described as contemplating creation, the Purāṇic worldview places the entire process under Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty—creation becomes meaningful and ordered because it proceeds within that higher reality.