Shloka 34

नैमित्तिक-प्राकृत-प्रलयवर्णनम्

Periodic and Elemental Dissolution; Reabsorption into Paramātman

Devanagari script

गुणसाम्यम् अनुद्रिक्तम् अन्यूनं च महामुने प्रोच्यते प्रकृतिर् हेतुः प्रधानं कारणं परम्

Transliteration

guṇasāmyam anudriktam anyūnaṃ ca mahāmune procyate prakṛtir hetuḥ pradhānaṃ kāraṇaṃ param

Translation

O great sage, that state in which the qualities (gunas) are in perfect equilibrium—neither excessive nor deficient—is declared to be Prakṛti: the causal ground, called Pradhāna, the supreme material cause.

Word by Word

• गुणसाम्यम्: equilibrium of the guṇas
• गुणसाम्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + साम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘गुणानां साम्यम्’ (equilibrium of guṇas)

• अनुद्रिक्तम्: not excessive
• अनुद्रिक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-उद्-√रिच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘न उद्रिक्तम्’ (not excessive)

• अन्यूनम्: not deficient
• अन्यूनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन् (नञ्) + न्यून (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थः—‘न न्यूनम्’ (not deficient)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महान् मुनिः’

• प्रोच्यते: is called, is stated
• प्रोच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (is said/called)

• प्रकृतिः: Prakṛti
• प्रकृतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ/प्रत्ययार्थे नाम (as the term being defined)

• हेतुः: cause
• हेतुः: Karta (Predicate/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-नाम (predicate nominative)

• प्रधानम्: Pradhāna (the primary matter)
• प्रधानम्: Karta (Predicate/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-नाम (the Pradhāna)

• कारणम्: cause, instrument
• कारणम्: Karta (Predicate/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-नाम

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karta (Predicate/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (supreme)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Definition of Prakṛti/Pradhāna as guṇa-sāmya (equilibrium of sattva-rajas-tamas)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: definitional

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Primary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prakṛti (Pradhāna) is defined as the unmanifest causal ground where the three guṇas remain in perfect equilibrium, neither increased nor diminished.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Notice guṇa-fluctuations in mind and life; cultivate sattva and inner balance as a preparatory discipline for higher contemplation.

Vishishtadvaita: While prakṛti is named ‘supreme material cause,’ Vishishtadvaita reads it as the Lord’s śarīra (dependent mode), with Nārāyaṇa as the ultimate transcendent cause who controls guṇas.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman (philosophical)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas)

FAQs

What is the significance of guna-sāmya (equilibrium of the gunas) in the Vishnu Purana?

It defines the unmanifest state of primordial nature (Prakriti/Pradhana) before creation, where sattva, rajas, and tamas are balanced and therefore do not yet produce manifest forms.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Prakriti and Pradhana in this context?

He identifies Prakriti as the causal substrate called Pradhana, characterized specifically by the equal, non-dominant condition of the gunas—neither heightened nor diminished.

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

By clarifying Prakriti as a 'supreme material cause' in the cosmological chain, the Purana sets up the distinction between material causality and the higher sovereignty of Vishnu as the Supreme Reality who presides over and initiates cosmic manifestation.