Shloka 32

मानवसर्गः, चातुर्वर्ण्य-गुणकर्म, यज्ञ-प्रतिपादनम्, आश्रमधर्म-फल, नरकवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

संसिद्धायां तु वार्तायां प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा प्रजापतिः मर्यादां स्थापयाम् आस यथास्थानं यथागुणम्

Transliteration

saṃsiddhāyāṃ tu vārtāyāṃ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā prajāpatiḥ maryādāṃ sthāpayām āsa yathāsthānaṃ yathāguṇam

Translation

When the ordering of worldly life was duly set in motion, Prajāpati—having created the beings—established the bounds of right order, assigning each its place according to its nature and qualities.

Word by Word

• संसिद्धायाम्: when (it was) accomplished
• संसिद्धायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक (particle 'but/indeed')

• वार्तायाम्: in livelihood/occupation (vārttā)
• वार्तायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• प्रजाः: creatures, subjects
• प्रजाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• सृष्ट्वा: having created
• सृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having created)

• प्रजापतिः: Prajāpati (lord of creatures)
• प्रजापतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—प्रजानां पतिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• मर्यादाम्: a boundary, rule, limit
• मर्यादाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्यादा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्थापयाम्: established
• स्थापयाम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect) परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त-धातु (स्थापयति) का लिट्-रूप (स्थापयाम)

• आस: did/was (auxiliary)
• आस: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; सहायक-क्रिया (periphrastic perfect auxiliary)

• यथास्थानम्: according to (their) proper place
• यथास्थानम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial: 'according to place')

• यथागुणम्: according to (their) qualities
• यथागुणम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial: 'according to qualities')

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How Prajāpati, after creating beings, instituted ordered boundaries and functions

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Creation is followed by maryādā—an intelligible ordering where beings are placed according to their svabhāva and guṇas.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Live in alignment with one’s capacities and responsibilities; cultivate harmony by honoring roles without envy or contempt.

Vishishtadvaita: Guṇa-based diversity is real yet coordinated within the one divine order—many functions within one cosmic body governed by the Supreme.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Prajāpati
• Prajāḥ (created beings)

FAQs

What is the significance of maryādā (ordained limits) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames maryādā as the post-creation principle that makes the world livable and meaningful—each being is placed within a structured order, preventing chaos and enabling dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the organization of beings after creation?

He presents creation as followed by classification and assignment: Prajāpati sets beings in their appropriate stations and functions according to their guṇas (inherent qualities).

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

Even when the verse names Prajāpati, the Purāṇic framework treats cosmic order as grounded in the supreme governance that ultimately rests in Vishnu—the sustaining intelligence behind dharma and universal structure.