Shloka 23

लोकसंस्थानम्, ग्रहदूरी-प्रमाणम्, ब्रह्माण्डावरणानि, विष्णोः जगत्कारणत्वम्

Devanagari script

दशोत्तरेण पयसा मैत्रेयाण्डं च तद् वृतम् सर्वो ऽम्बुपरिधानो ऽसौ वह्निना वेष्टितो बहिः

Transliteration

daśottareṇa payasā maitreyāṇḍaṃ ca tad vṛtam sarvo 'mbuparidhāno 'sau vahninā veṣṭito bahiḥ

Translation

O Maitreya, that Cosmic Egg is enclosed by water tenfold in measure; and that entire watery sheath, in turn, is surrounded from without by fire.

Word by Word

• दशोत्तरेण: by (a measure) exceeding by ten
• दशोत्तरेण: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशोत्तर (प्रातिपदिक; दश + उत्तर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भे पयसा इति नपुंसकेन सह), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दश अधिकेन)

• पयसा: with water
• पयसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

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

• अण्डम्: the cosmic egg
• अण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• वृतम्: covered, enclosed
• वृतम्: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि ("is covered")

• सर्वः: entire, wholly
• सर्वः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अम्बुपरिधानः: having water as its covering
• अम्बुपरिधानः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अम्बु + परिधान (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (अम्बु परिधानं यस्य सः)

• असौ: that (one/it)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वह्निना: by fire
• वह्निना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वेष्टितः: wrapped, encircled
• वेष्टितः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि ("is wrapped")

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (outside)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Successive cosmic coverings: the brahmāṇḍa enveloped by water (tenfold), and the watery sheath by fire

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: precise

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The universe is wrapped in successive elemental sheaths—first a tenfold oceanic covering, then an outer enclosure of fire—emphasizing stratified cosmic architecture.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Contemplate the layered elements as symbols of increasing subtlety and power; let it inspire disciplined practice and reverence rather than attachment to the gross world.

Vishishtadvaita: Elemental sheaths function as real modes (prakāra) within the Lord’s ordered manifestation, supporting a qualified non-dual cosmos rather than an illusory negation.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Brahmanda (Cosmic Egg)
• Agni (Fire element)
• Ap (Water element)

FAQs

What is the significance of the water and fire enclosures around the Brahmanda in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents the Brahmanda as protected by layered elemental sheaths—water first, then fire—illustrating a structured cosmic order where creation is bounded, measured, and sustained through successive elements.

How does Sage Parashara explain the idea of “tenfold” (daśottara) in this cosmological context?

Parashara uses “tenfold” to express proportional expansion: the enclosing layer (here, water) is described as vastly greater than what it surrounds, emphasizing the Purāṇic model of concentric, increasingly expansive cosmic coverings.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context of cosmic enclosures?

Even when not named explicitly, the Vishnu Purana frames such ordered cosmography as operating under the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—whose sovereignty is reflected in the intelligible, layered structure of the universe.