Shloka 30

प्रलय-त्रिविध-विभागः एवं प्राकृतप्रलय-वर्णनम्

Devanagari script

ततो दग्ध्वा जगत् सर्वं रुद्ररूपी जनार्दनः मुखनिश्वासजान् मेघान् करोति मुनिसत्तम

Transliteration

tato dagdhvā jagat sarvaṃ rudrarūpī janārdanaḥ mukhaniśvāsajān meghān karoti munisattama

Translation

Then, having burned the entire universe, Janārdana—assuming the form of Rudra—brings forth clouds born from the breath of His mouth, O best of sages.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kāla/Deśa-adhikaraṇa (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb) — 'thereupon/then'

• दग्ध्वा: having burnt
• दग्ध्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (पूर्वकालिक क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); धातुः: दह्; अर्थः: 'having burnt'

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• सर्वम्: entire, all
• सर्वम्: Karman (qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् जगत्-शब्दस्य

• रुद्ररूपी: having Rudra’s form
• रुद्ररूपी: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रुद्रस्य रूपी = having the form of Rudra); विशेषणम् जनार्दनः-शब्दस्य

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• मुखनिश्वासजान्: born from (his) mouth-breath
• मुखनिश्वासजान्: Karman (qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + निश्वास (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष (मुखनिश्वासात् जाताः = born from the breath of the mouth); विशेषणम् मेघान्-शब्दस्य

• मेघान्: clouds
• मेघान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• करोति: creates, makes
• करोति: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मुनिसत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनिसत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां सत्तमः = best of sages)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme Lord alone, by assuming Rudra-form, both consumes the cosmos and initiates the next phase of dissolution through His effortless will.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate impermanence to reduce attachment and cultivate surrender to the divine order.

Vishishtadvaita: Vishnu remains the sovereign inner ruler who manifests functional forms (e.g., Rudra) while retaining supreme agency.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Janardana)
• Rudra (as a form/aspect)

FAQs

What is the significance of Vishnu taking the Rudra-form in the Vishnu Purana?

It shows that destruction (Rudra-function) is not independent; it operates as a mode of the Supreme Lord (Vishnu/Janardana) within cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the transition from burning to renewal in pralaya?

After the universe is consumed, Parāśara describes the next cosmological step: the Lord generates rain-bearing clouds from His breath, initiating the conditions for re-manifestation.

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

Vishnu is presented as the ultimate sovereign cause—able to assume the destructive aspect and also generate the restorative forces—affirming His supremacy over the full cycle of dissolution and re-creation.