Shloka 53

Devanagari script

ततः प्रबुद्धो भगवान् यथा पूर्वं तथा पुनः सृष्टिं करोत्य् अव्ययात्मा कल्पे कल्पे रजोगुणः

Transliteration

tataḥ prabuddho bhagavān yathā pūrvaṃ tathā punaḥ sṛṣṭiṃ karoty avyayātmā kalpe kalpe rajoguṇaḥ

Translation

Then the Blessed Lord, re-awakened, creates the universe once again—just as before. Though His Self is imperishable and unchanged, in every kalpa He presides through the rajo-guṇa, setting creation into motion anew.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana/Temporal (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तर (thereafter)

• प्रबुद्धः: awakened
• प्रबुद्धः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-बुध् (धातु) + प्रबुद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भगवतः)

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/रीति (as/according to)

• पूर्वम्: formerly/before
• पूर्वम्: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदनुरूप (so/in that way)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति (again)

• सृष्टिम्: creation
• सृष्टिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• करोति: does/makes
• करोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अव्ययात्मा: the imperishable-souled one
• अव्ययात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यय + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कल्पे: in (each) kalpa
• कल्पे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• कल्पे: in every kalpa
• कल्पे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (distributive)

• रजोगुणः: the rajas quality
• रजोगुणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; (अत्र) विशेषणवत्—सृष्टिकर्तृत्वहेतुः

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How creation recommences after Brahma’s night; the Lord’s relation to the guṇas

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Though imperishable and unchanged, the Lord initiates creation again in each kalpa by presiding through rajo-guṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Hold steady to an inner unchanging center while engaging dynamic action responsibly in the world.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord remains nirvikāra in essence yet governs prakṛti and its guṇas—immanence without loss of transcendence.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman (philosophical)

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Rajo-guṇa

FAQs

What is the significance of rajo-guṇa in the Vishnu Purana’s creation teaching?

This verse frames rajo-guṇa as the activating power through which the Lord initiates manifestation in every kalpa, while remaining Himself imperishable and unchanged.

How does Sage Parāśara explain repeated creation across kalpas?

Parāśara presents creation as cyclical: after the Lord is ‘re-awakened,’ He produces the world again in the same patterned manner as before—kalpa after kalpa.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is depicted as Bhagavān and avyayātmā—unchanging Supreme Reality—who nevertheless governs cosmic process by presiding over the guṇas, especially rajas for creation.