Shloka 23
बाणयुद्धम्, हरिहरसंवादः, ज्वरप्रकरणम्, अनिरुद्धमोचनम्
Bāṇa’s War, the Jvara Episode, Hari–Hara Dialogue, and Aniruddha’s Release
प्रलयो ऽयम् अशेषस्य जगतो नूनम् आगतः मेनिरे त्रिदशा यत्र वर्तमाने महाहवे
pralayo 'yam aśeṣasya jagato nūnam āgataḥ menire tridaśā yatra vartamāne mahāhave
“Surely the dissolution of the entire universe has arrived,” thought the gods, as that vast and dreadful battle raged on.
Sage Parāśara (narrator) to Maitreya
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: The devas’ fear that the battle signifies pralaya.
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: dramatic, perspective-shifting (devas’ interpretation highlighted)
Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: By allowing the battle to appear like universal dissolution, Kṛṣṇa manifests overwhelming sovereignty that humbles even the gods and culminates in restoration of order.
Leela: Yuddha
Dharma Restored: Stability of the cosmos by demonstrating that true pralaya is not unleashed; divine order is preserved under the Lord’s rule.
Concept: Apparent catastrophe can resemble pralaya, yet the cosmos endures only by the Supreme’s will, reminding even devas of their dependence.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: When life feels ‘apocalyptic,’ reframe events through faith in divine governance; practice steadiness and prayer rather than panic.
Vishishtadvaita: The world is real yet contingent—its continuance and dissolution are governed by the Supreme Person, not by autonomous forces.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
Here, “pralaya” functions as a metaphor for overwhelming, world-shaking devastation—showing that even the gods perceive the battle’s tumult as cosmic in scale, while the Purana ultimately frames true cosmic control under Vishnu’s sovereignty.
Parāśara narrates the Devas’ inner conclusion—“this must be pralaya”—to convey the extremity of the conflict and heighten the sense that only a supreme regulating power can re-establish order.
Even when events resemble universal dissolution, the Vishnu Purana’s worldview implies that such upheaval occurs within the higher governance of Vishnu, the supreme reality who preserves and restores cosmic balance.