Shloka 26

प्रलय-त्रिविध-विभागः एवं प्राकृतप्रलय-वर्णनम्

Devanagari script

भुवर्लोकं ततः सर्वं स्वर्लोकं च सुदारुणः ज्वालामालामहावर्तस् तत्रैव परिवर्तते

Transliteration

bhuvarlokaṃ tataḥ sarvaṃ svarlokaṃ ca sudāruṇaḥ jvālāmālāmahāvartas tatraiva parivartate

Translation

Thereupon, that exceedingly dreadful vast whirl, encircled by garlands of flame, sweeps over all Bhuvarloka and even Svargaloka, and there it continues to revolve.

Word by Word

• भुवर्लोकम्: the Bhuvar-loka (mid-region world)
• भुवर्लोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवर् + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भुवरः लोकः/भुवर्लोकः)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (ablatival adverb: 'then/from there')

• सर्वम्: entire
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying भुवर्लोकम्)

• स्वर्लोकम्: the Svar-loka (heaven)
• स्वर्लोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर् + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वरः लोकः/स्वर्लोकः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• सुदारुणः: very dreadful
• सुदारुणः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ज्वालामालामहावर्तः)

• ज्वालामालामहावर्तः: the great whirl (vortex) of a garland of flames
• ज्वालामालामहावर्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वाला + माला + महा + वर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन; समासः: बहु-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (ज्वालानां माला; तस्याः महावर्तः)

• तत्रैव: right there
• तत्रैव: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र + एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb) + अवधारण (emphasis)

• परिवर्तते: turns around, revolves
• परिवर्तते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How pralaya-fire traverses the lokas (Bhuvar and Svar) during dissolution

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the higher lokas such as Bhuvar and Svarga are subject to pralaya, so heavenly attainment is finite and not the final goal.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Seek liberation-oriented devotion rather than merely merit for heavenly enjoyment.

Vishishtadvaita: Finite karmic fruits (svarga) perish; lasting fulfillment lies in turning to the supreme Lord, the only non-perishing refuge.

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Bhuvarloka
• Svargaloka

FAQs

What is the significance of the fiery vortex (jvālāmālā-mahāvarta) in the Vishnu Purana?

It dramatizes a powerful cosmic phenomenon that traverses multiple lokas, underscoring that even heavenly regions are within the governed order of the cosmos described by Parāśara.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the relationship between Bhuvarloka and Svargaloka here?

He presents them as contiguous cosmic tiers that can be affected in sequence by the same immense revolving force, indicating an interconnected vertical structure of realms.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇic cosmology is framed as operating under the supreme sovereignty of Vishnu—within whose order such vast forces move and revolve.