Shloka 31

दुर्वासाशापः, क्षीरसागरमन्थनम्, श्रीः (लक्ष्मी) उद्भवः तथा श्रीस्तुतिः

Devanagari script

एवम् अत्यन्तनिःश्रीके त्रैलोक्ये सत्त्ववर्जिते देवान् प्रति बलोद्योगं चक्रुर् दैतेयदानवाः

Transliteration

evam atyantaniḥśrīke trailokye sattvavarjite devān prati balodyogaṃ cakrur daiteyadānavāḥ

Translation

Thus, when the three worlds had become utterly bereft of Śrī and devoid of sattva, the Daityas and Dānavas set themselves to the exertion of force, mustering their power against the Devas.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• अत्यन्तनिःश्रीके: in the utterly fortune-less
• अत्यन्तनिःश्रीके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत्यन्त (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + निःश्रीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण-समासः (कर्मधारय): अत्यन्तं निःश्रीकं; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘त्रैलोक्ये’ इति विशेष्ये

• त्रैलोक्ये: in the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सत्त्ववर्जिते: devoid of courage/strength
• सत्त्ववर्जिते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—सत्त्वेन वर्जिते (devoid of courage/virtue)

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• प्रति: against / towards
• प्रति: Sambandha (Direction/प्रत्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश-अव्यय (preposition: towards/against)

• बलोद्योगम्: a forceful effort / military exertion
• बलोद्योगम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—बलस्य उद्योगः (effort of force)

• चक्रुः: they made / undertook
• चक्रुः: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• दैतेयदानवाः: the Daityas and Danavas
• दैतेयदानवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैतेय (प्रातिपदिक) + दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः (इतरेतर): दैतेयाश्च दानवाश्च; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When sattva and śrī diminish in the three worlds, asuric forces naturally rise and move toward domination.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Notice how inner sattva (clarity) supports outer order; strengthen sattva through restraint, truthfulness, and devotion to prevent ‘asuric’ impulses from ruling life.

Vishishtadvaita: Śrī (Lakṣmī) and sattva signify the Lord’s sustaining grace in the cosmos; their withdrawal permits adharmic forces to surge.

Vaishnava Theology

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Daityas
• Danavas
• Trailokya (three worlds)

FAQs

What is the significance of the three worlds becoming 'sattva-varjita' in the Vishnu Purana?

It signals a collapse of harmony and moral clarity; when sattva declines, asuric forces gain momentum, and cosmic order moves toward confrontation and correction.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the rise of the Daityas and Dānavas here?

He presents it as a consequence of a world-state: the loss of śrī (splendor/prosperity) and sattva creates conditions in which they organize power against the Devas.

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

Even when not named in the verse, the Purana’s theology implies that such imbalance in the gunas and the resulting conflict occur within Vishnu’s supreme governance, ultimately leading toward restoration of dharma.