Shloka 26

मानससृष्टिः, रुद्रोत्पत्तिः, मन्वादिवंशः, प्रलयचतुष्टयम्

Devanagari script

मेधा श्रुतं क्रिया दण्डं नयं विनयम् एव च बोधं बुद्धिस् तथा लज्जा विनयं वपुर् आत्मजम् व्यवसायं प्रजज्ञे वै क्षेमं शान्तिर् असूयत

Transliteration

medhā śrutaṃ kriyā daṇḍaṃ nayaṃ vinayam eva ca bodhaṃ buddhis tathā lajjā vinayaṃ vapur ātmajam vyavasāyaṃ prajajñe vai kṣemaṃ śāntir asūyata

Translation

From her arose discernment and śruti, sacred learning; right action, just punishment, and sound policy; humility as well—together with understanding, intelligence, and modesty. From humility was born noble conduct; from resolute effort came welfare; and from peace there issued freedom from envy.

Word by Word

• मेधा: Medhā (Intelligence)
• मेधा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रुतम्: learning/that which is heard (Śruta)
• श्रुतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• क्रिया: Kriyā (Action/rite)
• क्रिया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दण्डम्: punishment/rod
• दण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नयम्: policy/justice
• नयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विनयम्: discipline/modesty
• विनयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात

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

• बोधम्: knowledge/awakening
• बोधम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बुद्धिः: Buddhi (Intellect)
• बुद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb)

• लज्जा: Lajjā (Modesty/Shame)
• लज्जा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लज्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विनयम्: discipline/modesty
• विनयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वपुः: Vapuḥ (Body/Form)
• वपुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आत्मजम्: a son
• आत्मजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• व्यवसायम्: resolve/effort
• व्यवसायम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवसाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रजज्ञे: was born/was produced
• प्रजज्ञे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: प्र- (प्र+ज्ञा)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• क्षेमम्: welfare/security
• क्षेमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शान्तिः: Śānti (Peace)
• शान्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• असूयत: gave birth to
• असूयत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: आ- (आ+सू)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How social-political and ethical principles (policy, punishment, humility) arise as sustaining powers in creation

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowledge and right governance must be rooted in vinaya (humility) and śānti (peace), from which arise good conduct, welfare, and freedom from envy.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Pair learning and competence with humility; practice non-reactivity and fairness in leadership, letting śānti guide decisions to produce kṣema (well-being) for all.

Vishishtadvaita: Ethical order and statecraft are not merely secular; they are dharmic instruments within the Lord’s world, meant to protect beings as His śarīra (body) and uphold their flourishing.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of virtues like medhā, vinaya, and śānti in the Vishnu Purana’s creation narrative?

This verse treats ethical and intellectual virtues as created principles—cosmic constituents that stabilize society and kingship, showing that dharma is built into the fabric of creation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the emergence of welfare (kṣema) and social harmony?

Parāśara links welfare to determined effort (vyavasāya) and connects peace (śānti) with the removal of envy, presenting harmony as a causal outcome of inner discipline and tranquility.

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

Though not named in the verse, the passage belongs to the Sarga framework where all faculties and virtues ultimately arise within Vishnu’s ordered creation, reinforcing Vishnu as the supreme ground of cosmic law and right governance.