Shloka 37

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

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

Devanagari script

यद् अम्बु वैष्णवः कायस् ततो विप्र वसुंधरा पद्माकारा समुद्भूता पर्वताब्ध्यादिसंयुता

Transliteration

yad ambu vaiṣṇavaḥ kāyas tato vipra vasuṃdharā padmākārā samudbhūtā parvatābdhyādisaṃyutā

Translation

From that primeval water—Vishnu’s own manifested body—O Brahmin, the Earth arose: lotus-shaped in form, coming forth complete, endowed with mountains, oceans, and all such features.

Word by Word

• yat: which (that)
• yat: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• ambu: water
• ambu: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• vaiṣṇavaḥ: of Viṣṇu; Vaiṣṇava
• vaiṣṇavaḥ: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• kāyaḥ: body
• kāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• tataḥ: from that; therefore
• tataḥ: Apadana/Hetu (Source/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (ततः इति अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/हेतु-अर्थे (from that; therefore)

• vipra: O brāhmaṇa
• vipra: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• vasuṃdharā: the earth
• vasuṃdharā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasuṃdharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• padmākārā: lotus-shaped
• padmākārā: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (padmasya ākāraḥ)

• samudbhūtā: arisen; produced
• samudbhūtā: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ud-√bhū (भू धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• parvatābdhyādisaṃyutā: endowed with mountains, oceans, etc.
• parvatābdhyādisaṃyutā: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parvata + abdhi + ādi + saṃyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः (parvata-abdhi-ādi) + saṃyutā = ‘with mountains, oceans, etc.’ (सम्बन्धे तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sage Parashara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Sacred geography and the lotus-like form of the Earth arising from primordial waters; constitution of Bhūmi with mountains and oceans

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Dvipas (continents)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Earth arises from the primeval waters identified as Viṣṇu’s manifested body, implying the world’s dependence on Him as cause.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate nature as sustained by the divine and cultivate reverence toward the earth and its features rather than mere utilitarianism.

Vishishtadvaita: The universe is a real manifestation dependent on Viṣṇu—His śarīra (body) relation to jagat is suggested by ‘vaiṣṇavaḥ kāyaḥ’.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Earth (Vasundhara)

FAQs

What is the significance of the primeval waters (ambu) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse identifies the cosmic waters as “Vishnu’s body,” presenting creation not as separate from Him but as an emanation grounded in the Supreme Lord.

How does Sage Parashara explain the emergence of the Earth here?

Parashara states that from the Vishnu-associated waters the Earth arises lotus-shaped, already furnished with mountains, oceans, and other defining features—creation appears as an ordered, complete manifestation.

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

Vishnu is portrayed as the ultimate substrate of the cosmos: even the material basis of creation (the waters) is His own form, underscoring divine sovereignty and immanence.