Shloka 24

वेदव्यास-परम्परा तथा प्रणव-ब्रह्म-स्तुति

Devanagari script

जगतः प्रलयोत्पत्तौ यत् तत् कारणसंज्ञितम् महतः परमं गुह्यं तस्मै सुब्रह्मणे नमः

Transliteration

jagataḥ pralayotpattau yat tat kāraṇasaṃjñitam mahataḥ paramaṃ guhyaṃ tasmai subrahmaṇe namaḥ

Translation

Salutations to the Supreme Brahman—most hidden beyond all—who is known as the Cause, the very principle through which the universe’s dissolution and arising take place.

Word by Word

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• प्रलय-उत्पत्तौ: in dissolution and creation
• प्रलय-उत्पत्तौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (pralaya and utpatti)

• यत्: which (that)
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; निर्देश (correlative)

• कारण-संज्ञितम्: called ‘cause’
• कारण-संज्ञितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञित (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण; समासः तत्पुरुष (कारण-नाम्ना संज्ञितम्)

• महतः: of the great (principle)
• महतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• गुह्यम्: secret, hidden
• गुह्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तस्मै: to him/that (one)
• तस्मै: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन

• सु-ब्रह्मणे: to the excellent Brahman
• सु-ब्रह्मणे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सु = शोभन/श्रेष्ठ)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Prayojana (Salutation/नमस्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the Supreme is the causal principle behind both dissolution and re-emergence of the cosmos

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme Brahman is the hidden causal ground through which the universe undergoes both pralaya (dissolution) and utpatti (re-creation).

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Contemplate impermanence of worldly cycles and anchor practice in the unchanging Cause through remembrance and surrender.

Vishishtadvaita: Vishnu as both nimitta and upādāna-kāraṇa: the world’s transformations depend on Him without compromising His transcendence.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of pralaya and utpatti in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames dissolution (pralaya) and origination (utpatti) as dependent on a single Supreme Cause—highlighting cyclical cosmic order governed by the highest reality.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the ultimate cause of the universe here?

He identifies the ultimate principle as ‘kāraṇa-saṃjñita’—the one designated as the Cause—described as supremely hidden and worthy of reverent salutation.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

In Vaishnava reading, the ‘Supreme Brahman’ referred to as the Cause is Vishnu—affirming divine sovereignty over both creation and dissolution while remaining transcendent and inscrutable.