Shloka 15

Jarāsandha’s Sieges and the Lord’s Human-Conforming Strategy

Rāja-dharma as Līlā

Devanagari script

मनसैव जगत्सृष्टिं संहारं च करोति यः तस्यारिपक्षक्षपणे कियान् उद्यमविस्तरः

Transliteration

manasaiva jagatsṛṣṭiṃ saṃhāraṃ ca karoti yaḥ tasyāripakṣakṣapaṇe kiyān udyamavistaraḥ

Translation

He who, by mere will, brings forth the universe and dissolves it again—what need has He of any elaborate exertion simply to destroy the hostile ranks?

Word by Word

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• जगत्-सृष्टिम्: creation of the world
• जगत्-सृष्टिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः सृष्टिः)

• संहारम्: destruction/withdrawal
• संहारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• करोति: does/creates
• करोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Subject), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

• अरि-पक्ष-क्षपणे: in the destruction of the enemy side
• अरि-पक्ष-क्षपणे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अरिणां पक्षः) + तत्पुरुष (पक्षस्य क्षपणम्)

• कियान्: how great
• कियान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कियत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (विशेष्य-समन्वय), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (quantitative)

• उद्यम-विस्तरः: extent of effort
• उद्यम-विस्तरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्यम (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Subject), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (उद्यमस्य विस्तरः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Kalpa

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To protect dharma by subduing hostile forces while freely manifesting divine sovereignty in human-like action.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of righteous order through effortless divine supremacy

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme can create and dissolve the cosmos by mere will, so worldly conflict is insignificant to Him.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Cultivate trust and surrender by remembering that ultimate agency belongs to the Lord, not to circumstances.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms Vishnu as the efficient (nimitta) and material (upādāna) cause whose will governs cosmic processes.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of creation and dissolution being done “by mere will” in the Vishnu Purana?

It emphasizes Vishnu’s absolute sovereignty: the cosmos arises and withdraws effortlessly under His volition, showing that all power and causality ultimately rest in Him.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine action versus human effort in this context?

Parāśara contrasts human labor with the Lord’s effortless agency: if the universe itself is created and dissolved by will alone, then defeating hostile forces requires no elaborate struggle.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is presented as the Supreme Lord whose will governs cosmic cycles and moral order; His protection of dharma and removal of opposition are natural expressions of His omnipotence.