Shloka 31
सर्गभेदाः — अविद्या, स्रोतोभेदाः, नव सर्गाः, देवासुरादिसृष्टिः, वेद-यज्ञप्रादुर्भावः
युक्तात्मनस् तमोमात्रा उद्रिक्ताभूत् प्रजापतेः सिसृक्षोर् जघनात् पूर्वम् असुरा जज्ञिरे ततः
yuktātmanas tamomātrā udriktābhūt prajāpateḥ sisṛkṣor jaghanāt pūrvam asurā jajñire tataḥ
When Prajāpati, disciplined in mind and intent on creation, found the element of darkness (tamas) rising to predominance, then from the hinder part of that Creator the Asuras were born first.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Origin-sequence of beings at the outset of creation and the guṇa-based differentiation of devas/asuras
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: authoritative
Creation Stage: Primary
Concept: Guṇa-imbalance (tamas predominance) conditions the first projection of asuric beings within secondary creation.
Vedantic Theme: Maya
Application: Observe how tamas (inertia, obscuration) shapes outcomes, and cultivate sattva through disciplined habits and clarity of intent.
Vishishtadvaita: The world-process is real and ordered, unfolding under the Lord’s governance through guṇas rather than being a mere illusion.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Jagat Karana: Yes
FAQs
The verse links the predominance of tamas (darkness/inertia) with the first emergence of Asuras, presenting a guṇa-based explanation for differing dispositions within creation.
Parāśara describes a specific creative moment: as Prajāpati seeks to create, tamas becomes dominant, and from Prajāpati’s hinder part the Asuras arise first—an ordered, symbolic account of cosmic differentiation.
Even when the verse speaks of Prajāpati’s act, the Vishnu Purana frames such creation as occurring within Vishnu’s supreme reality and governance, where guṇas operate under the ultimate sovereignty of the Supreme (Vishnu).