Shloka 16
नैमित्तिक-प्राकृत-प्रलयवर्णनम्
Periodic and Elemental Dissolution; Reabsorption into Paramātman
सर्वम् आपूरयन्तीदं तिष्ठन्ति विचरन्ति च सलिलेनैवोर्मिमता लोकांस् तांस् तान् समन्ततः
sarvam āpūrayantīdaṃ tiṣṭhanti vicaranti ca salilenaivormimatā lokāṃs tāṃs tān samantataḥ
Filling this entire expanse, they abide and they also move about—just as water itself, bearing waves, encompasses those many worlds on every side.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Process and imagery of cosmic dissolution (pralaya) and elemental inundation
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: authoritative
Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)
Concept: At dissolution, the worlds are pervaded and surrounded as if by a single ocean, illustrating total cosmic pervasion and instability of manifested realms.
Vedantic Theme: Maya
Application: Contemplate impermanence of all environments and reduce attachment to worldly security.
Vishishtadvaita: The changing cosmos is a dependent mode (prakāra) of the Supreme, while the Lord remains the stable ground of all pervasion.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
FAQs
It conveys how the worlds are surrounded, supported, and dynamically held together—like waves that arise and move within water while still being contained by it.
He describes the worlds as both stable and mobile within an all-encompassing medium, emphasizing pervasion and containment as principles of cosmic arrangement.
Even when not named explicitly, the Purana’s cosmology typically implies a Supreme sustaining principle; the idea of all-pervading support aligns with Vishnu’s role as the ground of the universe.