Shloka 27

मेरु-प्रमाणम्, सप्त-पाताल-वर्णनम्, तथा अनन्त-शेष-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

तेनेयं नागवर्येण शिरसा विधृता मही बिभर्ति मालां लोकानां सदेवासुरमानुषाम्

Transliteration

teneyaṃ nāgavaryeṇa śirasā vidhṛtā mahī bibharti mālāṃ lokānāṃ sadevāsuramānuṣām

Translation

By that foremost of Nāgas, the Earth is borne aloft upon his head; and thus upheld, she sustains the entire garland of worlds—together with gods, asuras, and humankind.

Word by Word

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नाग: serpent
• नाग: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• वर्येण: by the excellent (one)
• वर्येण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; समस्तपद (नागवर्येण)

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• विधृता: held up, supported
• विधृता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + धृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (मही)

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

• बिभर्ति: bears, carries
• बिभर्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• मालाम्: garland
• मालाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• स: together with
• स: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत् समासपूर्वपद)
• Form: सह-अर्थक अव्यय (prefix-like ‘with’), समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• देव: gods
• देव: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• असुर: asuras
• असुर: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; समासाङ्ग (मध्यपद)

• मानुषाम्: humans
• मानुषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; समस्तपद (देवासुरमानुषाम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the earth and worlds are supported (Śeṣa as bearer) within the cosmographic account

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The earth and the plurality of worlds are upheld by the foremost Nāga (Śeṣa) under the sovereign order of the Supreme.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate cosmic order (ṛta/dharma) to cultivate steadiness; see worldly plurality as supported and governed by the Divine, reducing anxiety and ego.

Vishishtadvaita: Plurality (‘lokānāṃ mālā’) is real yet dependent: all beings and realms subsist as modes supported and ruled by the one Supreme (śarīra-śarīrī-bhāva).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi (earth)

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Shesha (Ananta)
• Earth (Bhūmi)
• Devas
• Asuras
• Humans

FAQs

What is the significance of Shesha (Ananta) supporting the Earth in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Śeṣa as the cosmic bearer of the Earth, symbolizing stability and the ordered maintenance of creation—ultimately functioning under the higher sovereignty of Viṣṇu.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the structure of the worlds here?

Parāśara describes the worlds as a connected “garland” (mālā) of realms, sustained together—devas, asuras, and humans—through cosmic supports within the Purāṇic geography.

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

Even when the verse names a cosmic supporter (the Nāga-king), the Purāṇic intent is that such support is part of Viṣṇu’s supreme governance: the cosmos is upheld through his ordained order and power.