Shloka 1
प्रलय-त्रिविध-विभागः एवं प्राकृतप्रलय-वर्णनम्
सर्वेषाम् एव भूतानां त्रिविधः प्रतिसंचरः नैमित्तिकः प्राकृतिकस् तथैवात्यन्तिको मतः
sarveṣām eva bhūtānāṃ trividhaḥ pratisaṃcaraḥ naimittikaḥ prākṛtikas tathaivātyantiko mataḥ
For all beings, the return into dissolution is understood to be of three kinds: the occasional (naimittika), the elemental or primordial (prākṛtika), and the absolute (ātyantika).
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Systematic classification of dissolution (pratisaṃcara) affecting beings
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Dissolution is threefold—occasional, elemental, and absolute—mapping cosmic withdrawal and the individual’s final release.
Vedantic Theme: Moksha
Application: Differentiate life’s periodic ‘endings’ from the ultimate goal: cultivate knowledge and devotion aimed at ātyantika (mokṣa).
Vishishtadvaita: Ātyantika pralaya as mokṣa aligns with the soul’s eternal dependence on the Supreme while being freed from karma and prakṛti.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Jagat Karana: Yes
FAQs
This verse classifies dissolution for all beings into three tiers—occasional, primordial, and absolute—mapping cosmic endings (of worlds and elements) as well as the individual’s final release from rebirth.
Parāśara begins the teaching by defining pratisaṁcāra as threefold, establishing a framework that later distinguishes periodic cosmic withdrawal, total elemental reabsorption into Prakṛti, and liberation that ends saṁsāra.
Even when discussing pralaya, the Purana’s Vaishnava vision treats cosmic order and its withdrawal as governed by the Supreme Reality; ātyantika pralaya especially points to mokṣa, attained through turning toward the highest principle identified with Vishnu.