Shloka 16

सूर्यरथ-कालचक्र-आयनविभागः, संध्योपासनम्, देवयान-पितृयानम्, विष्णुपद-गङ्गावतरणम्

Devanagari script

शक्रादीनां पुरे तिष्ठन् स्पृशत्य् एष पुरत्रयम् विकर्णौ द्वौ विकर्णस्थस् त्रीन् कोणान् द्वे पुरे तथा

Transliteration

śakrādīnāṃ pure tiṣṭhan spṛśaty eṣa puratrayam vikarṇau dvau vikarṇasthas trīn koṇān dve pure tathā

Translation

Abiding in the city of Śakra (Indra) and the other divine realms, this principle touches the triad of celestial cities. It extends along two diagonals; set upon those diagonals, it reaches three angles, and likewise makes contact with two of the cities.

Word by Word

• शक्रादीनाम्: of Indra and others
• शक्रादीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); समासः—शक्रादयः (शक्रः आदि येषाम्)

• पुरे: in the city
• पुरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• तिष्ठन्: standing
• तिष्ठन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; कर्तरि प्रयोग

• स्पृशति: touches
• स्पृशति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; सर्वनाम

• पुरत्रयम्: the triad of cities
• पुरत्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (three cities); द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• विकर्णौ: two diagonals
• विकर्णौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual), पुंलिङ्ग

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• विकर्णस्थः: situated on the diagonal
• विकर्णस्थः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकर्ण + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विकर्णे स्थितः); प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• कोणान्: corners/angles
• कोणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• पुरे: two cities
• पुरे: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb/conjunctive)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Celestial motion is presented as a determinate, quasi-geometric order that structures how realms are related and ‘touched’ by the luminary’s path.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate time and experience as patterned and law-governed, cultivating steadiness (niyama) rather than anxiety about change.

Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic order is intelligible as the regulated functioning of the Lord’s body (jagat) under His governance, even when not named explicitly.

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• Devas
• Puratraya (three celestial cities)

FAQs

What is the significance of the “three cities” (puratraya) in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, the “three cities” function as a cosmological grouping—divine abodes described in relational, geometric terms—highlighting that higher realms are not random but ordered within a governed cosmic structure.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic order here?

Parāśara uses spatial language—touching, diagonals, and angles—to convey that the deva-worlds are arranged according to determinate measures and relations, reflecting an intelligible cosmic design.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the line, the Vishnu Purana frames such cosmic architecture as part of the Supreme Lord’s orderly sovereignty—worlds and their measures exist within a divinely sustained, meaningful pattern.