Shloka 34

प्रलय-त्रिविध-विभागः एवं प्राकृतप्रलय-वर्णनम्

Devanagari script

शङ्खकुन्दनिभाश् चान्ये जात्यञ्जननिभास् तथा इन्द्रगोपनिभाः केचिन् मनःशिलनिभास् तथा

Transliteration

śaṅkhakundanibhāś cānye jātyañjananibhās tathā indragopanibhāḥ kecin manaḥśilanibhās tathā

Translation

Some are radiant like a conch-shell or jasmine blossoms; others are dark like collyrium. Some glow like the indragopa insect, and some shine with the vermilion brilliance of realgar.

Word by Word

• शङ्खकुन्दनिभाः: like conch and jasmine (white)
• शङ्खकुन्दनिभाः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + कुन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः: द्वन्द्व (शङ्ख-कुन्द) + तत्पुरुष (निभ) = 'like conch and jasmine'

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

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'others' (pronoun-like adjective used substantively)

• जात्यञ्जननिभाः: like fine collyrium (black)
• जात्यञ्जननिभाः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक) + अञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक) + निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष (जात्यञ्जनवत् निभाः = like fine collyrium)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपमानार्थक-क्रियाविशेषणम्

• इन्द्रगोपनिभाः: like the indragopa insect (red)
• इन्द्रगोपनिभाः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्रगोप (प्रातिपदिक) + निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रगोपवत् निभाः = like indragopa insect)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• मनःशिलनिभाः: like realgar
• मनःशिलनिभाः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनःशिला (प्रातिपदिक) + निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष (मनःशिलावत् निभाः = like realgar)

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपमानार्थक-क्रियाविशेषणम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Jagat Karana: Yes

FAQs

What is the significance of color imagery in this Vishnu Purana verse?

The verse uses well-known natural and mineral comparisons to convey the extraordinary variety and brilliance of beings in the subterranean realms, emphasizing the Purāṇic vision of a richly ordered cosmos.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the nature of the lower worlds (Pātāla) here?

He describes them through vivid sensory detail—especially radiance and complexion—presenting Pātāla not as mere darkness but as a structured realm with its own splendor within the cosmic arrangement.

What theological takeaway about Lord Vishnu fits this context?

Even these hidden regions belong to the same divinely sustained order; the diversity of forms and qualities ultimately rests within Vishnu’s sovereignty over the entire cosmos.