Shloka 27

नैमित्तिक-प्राकृत-प्रलयवर्णनम्

Periodic and Elemental Dissolution; Reabsorption into Paramātman

Devanagari script

ततः शब्दगुणं तस्य भूतादिर् ग्रसते पुनः भूतेन्द्रियेषु युगपद् भूतादौ संस्थितेषु वै अभिमानात्मको ह्य् एष भूतादिस् तामसः स्मृतः

Transliteration

tataḥ śabdaguṇaṃ tasya bhūtādir grasate punaḥ bhūtendriyeṣu yugapad bhūtādau saṃsthiteṣu vai abhimānātmako hy eṣa bhūtādis tāmasaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, the principle called Bhūtādi again absorbs that (subtle element) together with its specific quality—sound. And when the elements and the senses are simultaneously resolved back into Bhūtādi, this Bhūtādi—whose very nature is egoic identification (abhimāna)—is remembered as tāmasa (born of tamas).

Word by Word

ततःthereupon; then

शब्दगुणम्the quality of sound

तस्यof it

भूतादिःbhūtādi (the primordial element/ego-principle in this context)

ग्रसतेswallows; absorbs

पुनःagain

भूतेन्द्रियेषुin the elements and the sense-faculties

युगपत्simultaneously

भूतादौin bhūtādi

संस्थितेषुbeing situated; having become established

वैindeed

अभिमानात्मकःof the nature of self-sense (egoism)

हिfor; indeed

एषःthis

भूतादिःbhūtādi

तामसःtamasic; of darkness/inertia

स्मृतःis called; is known as

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How subtle elements and their qualities dissolve back into their causes (bhūtādi/ahaṅkāra)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: analytical

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda (universe)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In dissolution, elements and senses resolve into bhūtādi (tāmasa ahaṅkāra), whose nature is abhimāna—appropriating experience as ‘I’ and ‘mine’.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Observe abhimāna in daily life and practice dis-identification (viveka) to loosen the ego’s claim over senses and objects.

Vishishtadvaita: Ahaṅkāra is a dependent principle within the Lord’s ordered prakṛti; liberation involves right relation to the self as His mode (śeṣa) rather than egoic ownership.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

Parāśara

Maitreya

Śabda (sound)

FAQs

What is the significance of Bhūtādi in the Vishnu Purana?

Bhūtādi is the tamasic principle associated with egoic appropriation (abhimāna) that functions as the causal basis into which the elements and senses are reabsorbed during dissolution.

How does Sage Parāśara explain dissolution of the elements and senses here?

He describes a reabsorption sequence where the element along with its defining quality (here, sound) is ‘swallowed’ back, and the senses and elements together resolve into Bhūtādi as part of pratisarga.

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

Even while detailing tattva mechanics, the Purana frames cosmology as operating under the supreme ordering reality of Vishnu—creation and reabsorption occur within His overarching sovereignty.