Shloka 11

मानससृष्टिः, रुद्रोत्पत्तिः, मन्वादिवंशः, प्रलयचतुष्टयम्

Devanagari script

विभजात्मानम् इत्य् उक्त्वा तं ब्रह्मान्तर्दधे ततः

Transliteration

vibhajātmānam ity uktvā taṃ brahmāntardadhe tataḥ

Translation

Having said, “Divide yourself,” Brahmā thereupon vanished from his sight, withdrawing within himself.

Word by Word

• vibhaja: divide
• vibhaja: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhaj (धातु) with वि-
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• ātmānam: yourself
• ātmānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vakyopanyasa (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• antardadhe: disappeared/withdrew
• antardadhe: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धातु) with अन्तर्- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपदम्

• tataḥ: thereupon
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anantarya (Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/ततः (ablatival adverb: ‘thereupon/then’)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How Brahmā delegates creative differentiation to Rudra and withdraws after issuing the command

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic work proceeds through delegation and orderly division of functions; the creator issues the directive and then withdraws, allowing the appointed power to act.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: After giving clear guidance, step back and let responsible agents execute; avoid micromanagement while maintaining dharmic intent.

Vishishtadvaita: Ordered causality: higher principles empower subordinate functions; agency is hierarchical within an integrated cosmic organism.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā

FAQs

What is the significance of Brahmā saying “Divide yourself” in the Vishnu Purana?

It signals the start of differentiation—creation proceeds by beings multiplying, separating, or manifesting variety under a divine directive.

How does Sage Parāśara frame creation events in this chapter’s dialogue?

He narrates creation as an ordered sequence: a command initiates manifestation, and Brahmā withdraws once the generative process is set to unfold.

What is the theological importance of this moment in Vaishnava cosmology?

Even when Brahmā acts as creator, the Purana’s larger theology treats such agency as operating within a higher sovereignty—creation unfolds according to supreme cosmic order associated with Vishnu.