Shloka 31

भाण्डीरवट-क्रीडा: प्रलम्बासुरवधः, मानुष्यलीला, एक-कारण-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

एवं त्वया संहरणे ऽत्तम् एतज् जगत् समस्तं पुनर् अप्य् अवश्यम् तथैव सर्गाय समुद्यतस्य जगत्त्वम् अभ्येत्य् अनुकल्पम् ईश

Transliteration

evaṃ tvayā saṃharaṇe 'ttam etaj jagat samastaṃ punar apy avaśyam tathaiva sargāya samudyatasya jagattvam abhyety anukalpam īśa

Translation

Thus, at the time of dissolution, this entire universe is drawn back and absorbed by You; and then, inevitably, when You rise again for creation, it returns to the state of “worldhood,” manifesting once more in due order, O Lord.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus’)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by you’

• संहरणे: in dissolution
• संहरणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in dissolution/withdrawal’

• अत्तम्: consumed
• अत्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘consumed’

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshya (Referent/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘this’

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘world/universe’

• समस्तम्: entire
• समस्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘entire/complete’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय (again)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘also/even’)

• अवश्यम्: certainly
• अवश्यम्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अवश्य (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (certainly/inevitably)

• तथा: in the same way
• तथा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (so/in the same way)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

• सर्गाय: for creation
• सर्गाय: Sampradana (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; ‘for creation’

• समुद्यतस्य: of (you) who are prepared
• समुद्यतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उद् + यत् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-भाव), षष्ठी, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सामान्य; ‘of (you) who are ready/engaged’

• जगत्त्वम्: the state of being a world
• जगत्त्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक-त्व: ‘world-ness/state of being a world’

• अभ्येत्य: having attained
• अभ्येत्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि + इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive): ‘having attained’

• अनुकल्पम्: according to due order
• अनुकल्पम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुकल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘in due order/according to arrangement’ (as object of motion/attainment)

• ईश: O Lord
• ईश: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; vocative ‘O Lord’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Kalpa

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The universe is periodically reabsorbed into the Lord at dissolution and re-manifests in ordered sequence when creation recommences.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate impermanence to loosen attachment, while trusting in a meaningful order (niyati) and aligning life with dharma.

Vishishtadvaita: Vishnu is both the inner controller who withdraws the world into Himself and the sovereign who projects it again without compromising His transcendence.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of dissolution (pralaya) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents pralaya as the universe being reabsorbed into Vishnu, emphasizing that dissolution is not chaos but a divine withdrawal preceding ordered re-manifestation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the return of creation after dissolution?

Parāśara states that when the Lord becomes intent on creation again, the universe necessarily reappears, regaining “jagattva” according to anukalpa—an orderly, measured sequence.

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

Vishnu is portrayed as Īśvara, the sovereign ground of being: the cosmos depends on Him for both its absorption and its re-emergence, aligning creation and dissolution with divine will and supremacy.