Shloka 70

वंशस्मरण-फलम्, वैशालिका-प्रसङ्गः, रेवती-बलदेव-विवाहः, विष्णु-परतत्त्व-स्तुतिः

Devanagari script

इतीरितो ऽसौ कमलोद्भवेन भुवं समासाद्य पतिः प्रजानाम् ददर्श ह्रस्वान् पुरुषान् अशेषान् अल्पौजसः स्वल्पविवेकवीर्यान्

Transliteration

itīrito 'sau kamalodbhavena bhuvaṃ samāsādya patiḥ prajānām dadarśa hrasvān puruṣān aśeṣān alpaujasaḥ svalpavivekavīryān

Translation

Thus prompted by the Lotus-born (Brahmā), the Lord of creatures came down to the earth and beheld all mankind—diminished in stature, scant in vitality, and weak in discernment and strength.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (इति)
• Form: Particle

• īritaḥ: instructed/addressed
• īritaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īrita (ईरित)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (kta), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• asau: he
• asau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (अदस्)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kamalodbhavena: by the Lotus-born (Brahma)
• kamalodbhavena: Karta (Agent/कर्ता in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamalodbhava (कमलोद्भव)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• bhuvam: earth
• bhuvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (भू)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• samāsādya: having reached
• samāsādya: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-ā-sad (सम्-आ-सद्)
• Form: Gerund (Lyap)

• patiḥ: lord/master
• patiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (पति)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• prajānām: of subjects/people
• prajānām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रजा)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश्)
• Form: Perfect (Lit), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• hrasvān: short/small
• hrasvān: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hrasva (ह्रस्व)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• puruṣān: men
• puruṣān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (पुरुष)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• aśeṣān: all/entire
• aśeṣān: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśeṣa (अशेष)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• alpaujasaḥ: of little vigor
• alpaujasaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpaujas (अल्पौजस्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• svalpavivekavīryān: of little discrimination and strength
• svalpavivekavīryān: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svalpavivekavīrya (स्वल्पविवेकवीर्य)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Why a lord of creatures descended and what condition humanity was in at that time.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In times of yuga-decline, humans become weakened in vitality and discernment, calling for renewed discipline and guidance.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Counter decline by strengthening viveka through study, sādhana, and ethical restraint, rather than yielding to inertia.

Vishishtadvaita: Implied need for divine guidance within history: the Lord’s governance accommodates yuga-conditions while sustaining the possibility of devotion and order.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Humans (Puruṣas)
• Earth (Bhūmi)

FAQs

What is the significance of Brahmā being called ‘the Lotus-born’ in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks Brahmā as the creator who arises through the cosmic principle ultimately grounded in the Supreme (Vishnu), and it frames creation as an ordered, delegated process rather than random emergence.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the decline in human vigor and discernment here?

By describing humans as ‘small in energy and discrimination,’ Parāśara signals a cosmological condition that necessitates guidance and governance—prompting the lord of creatures to intervene and restore order.

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

Even when Brahmā and Prajāpati act, the Purāṇic worldview treats them as operating within a hierarchy sustained by Vishnu as the Supreme Reality, under whose sovereignty cosmic order and dharma are ultimately maintained.