Shloka 15

सोमचक्रः, ग्रह-रथाः, ध्रुवबन्धनं, शिशुमारसंनिवेशः, विष्णु-सर्वात्मकता

Moon, Planets, Dhruva-Tethering, Śiśumāra, and Vishnu as All

Devanagari script

वीरुधौषधिनिष्पत्त्या मनुष्यपशुकीटकान् आप्याययति शीतांशुः प्राकाश्याह्लादनेन तु

Transliteration

vīrudhauṣadhiniṣpattyā manuṣyapaśukīṭakān āpyāyayati śītāṃśuḥ prākāśyāhlādanena tu

Translation

By bringing forth the growth of plants and medicinal herbs, the cool-rayed Moon nourishes human beings, animals, and even insects—sustaining them through his radiance and his power to delight and refresh.

Word by Word

• वीरुधौषधिनिष्पत्त्या: by the production of plants and herbs
• वीरुधौषधिनिष्पत्त्या: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरुध् + औषधि + निष्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); समास: वीरुध-औषधि (द्वन्द्व) + निष्पत्ति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of plants and herbs’)

• मनुष्यपशुकीटकान्: humans, animals, and insects
• मनुष्यपशुकीटकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य + पशु + कीटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural); समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative)

• आप्याययति: nourishes/causes to thrive
• आप्याययति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √प्या (धातु; causative)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (singular); णिजन्त (causative)

• शीतांशुः: the cool-rayed one (Moon)
• शीतांशुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीत + अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• प्राकाश्याह्लादनेन: by (its) illumination and refreshing (cooling)
• प्राकाश्याह्लादनेन: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राकाश्य + आह्लादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); द्वन्द्व (brightness and delighting)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); विशेषार्थक (indeed/but)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Moon as ecological nourisher via plant and herb growth, sustaining all creatures

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Celestial order (Chandra’s cooling radiance) manifests as terrestrial fertility, sustaining diverse life forms through plants and medicines.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: See health and food as sacred gifts; practice mindful stewardship of herbs, agriculture, and nighttime rhythms.

Vishishtadvaita: Interdependence of beings illustrates the world as a coordinated body supported by the Supreme through appointed cosmic functions.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi

Characters & Entities

• Chandra (the Moon)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Moon (Chandra) in the Vishnu Purana’s cosmic order?

This verse presents the Moon as a life-sustaining power: through illumination and cooling delight, he enables vegetation and thereby nourishes humans, animals, and insects—showing how celestial functions uphold universal order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain nourishment and growth in the natural world?

Parāśara links biological flourishing to cosmic cycles: the Moon promotes the manifestation of plants and herbs, and through that vegetative abundance living beings are ‘filled out’ and sustained.

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

Though the verse names the Moon, the Purāṇic framework treats such cosmic agencies as instruments of the Supreme Lord’s governance—Vishnu’s sovereignty expressed as orderly sustenance across all life.