Shloka 17

Devanagari script

नमो ऽग्नीषोमभूताय जगतः कारणात्मने भास्कराय परं तेजः सौषुम्णम् उरु बिभ्रते

Transliteration

namo 'gnīṣomabhūtāya jagataḥ kāraṇātmane bhāskarāya paraṃ tejaḥ sauṣumṇam uru bibhrate

Translation

Salutations to Bhāskara, of the nature of Agni and Soma, whose very Self is the causal ground of the universe—who bears aloft, vast and supreme, the transcendent radiance known as the Sauṣumnā light.

Word by Word

• नमः: homage
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayojana (Salutation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/उद्गारः), नमस्कारार्थकः

• अग्नीषोमभूताय: to (him) who has become Agni and Soma
• अग्नीषोमभूताय: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि + सोम + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—अग्नीषोमरूपेण भूतः

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

• कारणात्मने: to the one whose essence is the cause
• कारणात्मने: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—कारणं आत्मा यस्य/यः

• भास्कराय: to Bhāskara (the Sun)
• भास्कराय: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तेजः-शब्दस्य)

• तेजः: splendor; radiance
• तेजः: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सौषुम्णम्: pertaining to Suṣumnā (central, subtle)
• सौषुम्णम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौषुम्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तेजः-शब्दस्य)

• उरु: vast; great
• उरु: Karma (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तेजः-शब्दस्य)

• बिभ्रते: (he) bears; carries
• बिभ्रते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The cosmic role of Bhāskara as jagat-kāraṇa and bearer of supreme radiance (sauṣumnā)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhāskara is praised as the causal ground of the universe, uniting polar powers (Agni and Soma) and bearing a transcendent, central radiance (sauṣumnā).

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate the integration of opposing energies (heat/cool, activity/rest) as a spiritual discipline, aligning attention to the ‘central channel’ of awareness in meditation.

Vishishtadvaita: The one Supreme cause manifests as multiple functional energies (Agni/Soma) without losing unity—difference-in-unity consistent with qualified non-dualism.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Bhaskara (Surya)
• Agni
• Soma

FAQs

What is the significance of Agni and Soma in this Vishnu Purana verse?

Agni and Soma function as complementary cosmic principles—fiery transformation and nourishing coolness—here unified in the solar deity, indicating that the Sun integrates and governs fundamental forces that sustain the world-order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the universe’s cause in this context?

By praising Bhāskara as “jagataḥ kāraṇātmā,” Parāśara frames the visible Sun as the manifest seat of a deeper causal reality—an outward form through which the Supreme sustaining principle operates in the cosmos.

What is the theological importance of the ‘supreme radiance’ mentioned here?

The verse elevates solar light beyond physics into para-tejas: a transcendent power that upholds cosmic sovereignty; in Vaiṣṇava reading, such supreme radiance ultimately belongs to the Supreme Reality (Vishnu) and is expressed through the Sun as His cosmic function.