Shloka 24
लोकसंस्थानम्, ग्रहदूरी-प्रमाणम्, ब्रह्माण्डावरणानि, विष्णोः जगत्कारणत्वम्
वह्निश् च वायुना वायुर् मैत्रेय नभसा वृतः भूतादिना नभः सो ऽपि महता परिवेष्टितः दशोत्तराण्य् अशेषाणि मैत्रेयैतानि सप्त वै
vahniś ca vāyunā vāyur maitreya nabhasā vṛtaḥ bhūtādinā nabhaḥ so 'pi mahatā pariveṣṭitaḥ daśottarāṇy aśeṣāṇi maitreyaitāni sapta vai
Fire is enclosed by wind; and wind, O Maitreya, is enclosed by space. Space is encompassed by bhūtādi, the primal source of the elements; and even that is wrapped about by Mahat, the Great Principle. These are the seven envelopes, each tenfold greater than the one before.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Structure of the brahmāṇḍa and its successive coverings (āvaraṇas) and their proportions
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: authoritative
Creation Stage: Primary
Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)
Concept: The universe is structured through concentric, successively subtler and vaster coverings, culminating in Mahat as a primary principle.
Vedantic Theme: Maya
Application: Contemplate graded causality—moving from gross to subtle—to cultivate detachment from merely external forms.
Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic order is intelligible as a real, structured manifestation dependent upon the Supreme as its ground.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Jagat Karana: Yes
FAQs
This verse describes the universe as layered by successive principles—each enclosing the previous—culminating in Mahat, presenting creation as an ordered, hierarchical cosmos rather than a random assemblage.
Parāśara states that each enclosing layer is ten times more extensive than the one it surrounds, indicating a graded vastness and an intelligible architecture of the created order.
Even while naming tattvas like Bhūtādi and Mahat, the Purana frames such principles as aspects within a divinely governed creation—ultimately dependent on Vishnu as the Supreme Reality who sustains cosmic order.