Shloka 21

Devanagari script

वहन्ति पन्नगा यक्षैः क्रियते ऽभीषुसंग्रहः

Transliteration

vahanti pannagā yakṣaiḥ kriyate 'bhīṣusaṃgrahaḥ

Translation

The Nāgas bear that cosmic burden, and the Yakṣas bring about the gathering and orderly marshalling of the Sun’s rays.

Word by Word

• वहन्ति: they carry/bear
• वहन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पन्नगाः: serpents
• पन्नगाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पन्नग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• यक्षैः: by the Yakṣas
• यक्षैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• क्रियते: is done/is made
• क्रियते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• अभीषुसंग्रहः: collection/assembling of the rays
• अभीषुसंग्रहः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभीषु (प्रातिपदिक) + संग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘अभीषूणां संग्रहः’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Solar cosmology: the sevenfold hosts in the Sun and their functions (rays, seasons, heat/cold/rain)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic functions (like solar radiance) are sustained through divinely appointed, orderly agencies rather than randomness.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate reverence for natural order and align one’s duties with one’s appointed role (svadharma).

Vishishtadvaita: The universe operates as an ordered body (śarīra) with graded agents, implying a higher coordinating Lord though not named here.

Characters & Entities

• Yakshas
• Nagas (Pannagas)
• Surya (implied by 'rays')

FAQs

What is the significance of the Yakṣas and Nāgas in Vishnu Purana cosmology?

This verse assigns them specific cosmic functions: Nāgas ‘bear’ the supporting burden, while Yakṣas ‘collect/organize’ the Sun’s rays—showing an ordered universe run through delegated celestial roles.

How does Sage Parāśara explain universal order through such beings?

Parāśara describes the cosmos as a structured system where different classes of beings perform defined duties (like carrying supports or regulating rays), reflecting a governed and intelligible creation rather than randomness.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named directly, the Purana’s cosmology implies that such regulated functions and delegated powers operate within Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty—cosmic order itself is a sign of the Supreme Reality’s governance.