Shloka 29

Devanagari script

स्थावरान्ताः सुराद्यास् तु प्रजा ब्रह्मंश् चतुर्विधाः ब्रह्मणः कुर्वतः सृष्टिं जज्ञिरे मानसास् तु ताः

Transliteration

sthāvarāntāḥ surādyās tu prajā brahmaṃś caturvidhāḥ brahmaṇaḥ kurvataḥ sṛṣṭiṃ jajñire mānasās tu tāḥ

Translation

O Brahmin, these progeny—from the gods down to the immovable—are fourfold. As Brahmā wrought creation, they first arose as mind-born (mānasa) emanations.

Word by Word

• स्थावरान्ताः: ending with immovables (up to plants)
• स्थावरान्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्थावरः अन्तः येषाम्)

• सुराद्याः: beginning with the gods
• सुराद्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष (सुराः आदयः)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle)

• प्रजाः: creatures, progeny
• प्रजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• चतुर्विधाः: fourfold
• चतुर्विधाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष (चतस्रः विधाः)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

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

• सृष्टिम्: creation
• सृष्टिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• जज्ञिरे: were born, arose
• जज्ञिरे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• मानसाः: mind-born
• मानसाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (प्रजाः इति)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle)

• ताः: those (creatures)
• ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (प्रजाः इति)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Classification of beings and Brahmā’s mānasa-sṛṣṭi (mind-born creation)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Creation proceeds in ordered classes, first as mental emanations of Brahmā before gross embodiment.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Reflect on the layered nature of manifestation—intention precedes form—so discipline the mind as the seedbed of action.

Vishishtadvaita: Maintains real gradations of beings (deva to sthāvara) within a purposeful cosmic order governed by the Lord through Brahmā as secondary creator.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Devas (gods)
• Sthāvara (immovable beings)

FAQs

What is the significance of “mind-born” (mānasa) creation in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames early creation as arising first in Brahmā’s mind—an intentional, subtle origination—before becoming fully differentiated, emphasizing that cosmic manifestation begins from consciousness and will.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the range of created beings here?

Parāśara summarizes creation as spanning from devas down to immovable life, presenting a complete spectrum of beings and indicating that these categories are part of an ordered, systematic sarga.

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

Although Brahmā is the immediate agent described, the Vishnu Purana’s cosmology treats such creation as operating under the supreme sovereignty of Vishnu—the ultimate ground enabling ordered manifestation.