Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

प्राकृता वैकृताश् चैव जगतो मूलहेतवः सृजतो जगदीशस्य किम् अन्यच् छ्रोतुम् इच्छसि

Transliteration

prākṛtā vaikṛtāś caiva jagato mūlahetavaḥ sṛjato jagadīśasya kim anyac chrotum icchasi

Translation

The primal (prakṛta) and derivative (vaikṛta) causes are indeed the root-causes of the universe, set in motion by the Lord of the cosmos as He creates. What else do you wish to hear?

Word by Word

• प्राकृताः: primary, original (natural)
• प्राकृताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• वैकृताः: modified, derivative
• वैकृताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मूलहेतवः: root-causes
• मूलहेतवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मूलस्य हेतवः)

• सृजतः: of (him) creating
• सृजतः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• जगदीशस्य: of the Lord of the world
• जगदीशस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः ईशः)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• अन्यत्: other, further
• अन्यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive); अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• इच्छसि: you desire
• इच्छसि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Prākṛta and vaikṛta causes of creation; the Lord as the initiator of sṛṣṭi

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The universe arises from primary and derivative causes, set in motion by the Lord as the ultimate causal ground.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate causality as dependent on īśvara and cultivate humility toward the limits of empirical explanation.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms the Lord as jagat-kāraṇa (both intelligent director and ground of manifestation), with prakṛti functioning under His sovereignty.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Jagadīśa (Lord of the universe)
• Vishnu (implied as the Supreme Lord who creates)

FAQs

What is the significance of prakṛta and vaikṛta causes in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse summarizes that the universe arises from two tiers of causality—primordial material causes (prakṛta) and their transformations (vaikṛta)—all operating under the sovereignty of the Lord.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the process of creation to Maitreya here?

Parāśara closes a section by stating that he has already outlined the root-causes behind creation, framing them as ordered principles governed by Jagadīśa, and then invites Maitreya’s next question.

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

Vishnu is implied as Jagadīśa, the supreme governor whose will and lordship preside over Prakṛti and its evolutes—affirming creation as ultimately dependent on the Supreme Reality.