Shloka 20

प्रलय-त्रिविध-विभागः एवं प्राकृतप्रलय-वर्णनम्

Devanagari script

ततस् तस्यानुभावेन तोयाहारोपबृंहिताः त एव रश्मयः सप्त जायन्ते सप्त भास्कराः

Transliteration

tatas tasyānubhāvena toyāhāropabṛṃhitāḥ ta eva raśmayaḥ sapta jāyante sapta bhāskarāḥ

Translation

Then, by the potency of that solar orb, those very rays—nourished and increased by drawing in water—become sevenfold; thus are born the seven suns, the seven solar forms.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक (thereupon/then)

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनुभावेन: by (his) power/effect
• अनुभावेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• तोयाहारोपबृंहिताः: strengthened by drinking water
• तोयाहारोपबृंहिताः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तोय-आहार-उपबृंहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; उप√बृंह् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तोयस्य आहारः = water-intake; तेन उपबृंहिताः = strengthened); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/अवधारण (emphasis)

• रश्मयः: rays
• रश्मयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-शब्द)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-विशेषण; (here) प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे

• जायन्ते: are born, arise
• जायन्ते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-शब्द)
• Form: संख्या-विशेषण; प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे

• भास्कराः: suns
• भास्कराः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Process of cosmic dissolution (pralaya) and its sequential signs

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: At the onset of dissolution, the sun’s rays, drawing up waters, intensify and multiply into seven solar powers that regulate the unraveling of the cosmos.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Contemplate impermanence and cultivate detachment by reflecting on the cosmic scale of change beyond personal control.

Vishishtadvaita: The ordered dissolution is not random but governed by Bhagavān’s śakti, showing divine immanence in cosmic law.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Surya (the Sun)
• Rays (Raśmi)
• Seven Bhāskaras (seven solar forms)

FAQs

What is the significance of the “seven Bhāskaras” in the Vishnu Purana?

They represent a sevenfold manifestation of the Sun’s operative power—its rays differentiated into seven functional solar forms that uphold cosmic regulation and nourishment.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Sun’s interaction with water in this verse?

Parāśara states that the Sun’s rays are “augmented by drawing in water,” pointing to the solar role in the hydrological cycle and, symbolically, in sustaining life and order.

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

Even when describing solar mechanics, the Purana frames cosmic functions as ordered powers within Vishnu’s sovereignty—natural law and sustenance ultimately rest on the Supreme Reality who supports the universe.