Shloka 14

लोकसंस्थानम्, ग्रहदूरी-प्रमाणम्, ब्रह्माण्डावरणानि, विष्णोः जगत्कारणत्वम्

Devanagari script

चतुर्गुणोत्तरे चोर्ध्वं जनलोकात् तपः स्मृतः वैराजा यत्र ते देवाः स्थिता दाहविवर्जिताः

Transliteration

caturguṇottare cordhvaṃ janalokāt tapaḥ smṛtaḥ vairājā yatra te devāḥ sthitā dāhavivarjitāḥ

Translation

Fourfold above Janaloka is said to be Tapoloka. There dwell the gods called the Vairājas, abiding free from burning heat, pain, and all consuming afflictions.

Word by Word

• caturguṇottare: in the region higher by fourfold (measure)
• caturguṇottare: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरणे (locative of place/condition)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ūrdhvam: above, upwards
• ūrdhvam: Adhikarana (Direction/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• janalokāt: from Janaloka
• janalokāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative of separation/source)

• tapaḥ: Tapoloka (the world of austerity)
• tapaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय (subject/topic)

• smṛtaḥ: is said (to be)
• smṛtaḥ: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु) → smṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘(इति) स्मृतः’ = is said/considered

• vairājāḥ: the Vairājas (a class of gods)
• vairājāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vairāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्ता (subject)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• te: those
• te: Karta (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• devāḥ: gods
• devāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्ता

• sthitāḥ: are situated
• sthitāḥ: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु) → sthita (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, adjectival); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘स्थिताः’ = are situated/abide

• dāhavivarjitāḥ: free from burning (heat)
• dāhavivarjitāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāha (प्रातिपदिक) + vivarjita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण; ‘दाहेन विवर्जिताः’ (devoid of burning/heat)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Structure and relative measures of the higher lokas (cosmic worlds)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The cosmos is hierarchically layered, with higher lokas progressively freer from gross suffering and decay.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Use the graded lokas as a contemplative map to cultivate vairāgya and aspiration toward purer states of consciousness.

Vishishtadvaita: Affliction-free realms still remain within ordered creation, implying a graded, real cosmos sustained by Nārāyaṇa rather than an illusory negation.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Characters & Entities

• Janaloka
• Tapoloka
• Vairāja devas

FAQs

What is the significance of Tapoloka in the Vishnu Purana?

Tapoloka is portrayed as a higher realm above Janaloka, associated with austerity (tapas) and refined existence, where beings such as the Vairājas dwell free from torment—signaling an ascent from ordinary cosmic life toward purer spiritual states.

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

Parāśara presents the lokas as vertically ordered realms, giving relative placement and measures (here, “fourfold above Janaloka”), and describing each realm by its inhabitants and the quality of experience found there.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the ordered hierarchy of realms and the graded purity of existence reflect a universe governed by supreme law and sovereignty—traditionally grounded in Vishnu as the sustaining Supreme Reality in Vaishnava cosmology.