Shloka 50

नैमित्तिक-प्राकृत-प्रलयवर्णनम्

Periodic and Elemental Dissolution; Reabsorption into Paramātman

Devanagari script

इत्य् एष तव मैत्रेय कथितः प्राकृतो लयः आत्यन्तिकम् अथो ब्रह्मन् निबोध प्रतिसंचरम्

Transliteration

ity eṣa tava maitreya kathitaḥ prākṛto layaḥ ātyantikam atho brahman nibodha pratisaṃcaram

Translation

Thus, O Maitreya, I have explained to you the primordial (prākṛta) dissolution. Now, O Brahman, understand the ultimate (ātyantika) dissolution, and the return-course of emanation (pratisaṃcara).

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तव: to you/your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मैत्रेय: O Maitreya
• मैत्रेय: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• कथितः: has been described
• कथितः: Kriya (Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः

• प्राकृतः: pertaining to Prakṛti (natural)
• प्राकृतः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—लयः इत्यस्य

• लयः: dissolution
• लयः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आत्यन्तिकम्: ultimate/absolute
• आत्यन्तिकम्: Karma (Object/Topic)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्यन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण—(लयम्/प्रतिसंचरम्) इत्यस्य बोध्यः

• अथ: now/then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• उ: indeed
• उ: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उ (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• ब्रह्मन्: O brāhmaṇa/sage
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• निबोध: understand/learn
• निबोध: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• प्रतिसंचरम्: the re-emergence/return (re-creation)
• प्रतिसंचरम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति+संचर (प्रातिपदिक; सं+चर् धातोः भाव/कर्म-नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Transition from prākṛta dissolution to ātyantika dissolution and the return-course (pratisaṃcara)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Beyond primordial dissolution, the text points to ātyantika dissolution—liberation—and to the doctrine of re-emergence (pratisaṃcara) for cosmic cycles.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Aim beyond cosmological knowledge to liberation: cultivate discrimination, devotion, and steady practice directed toward freedom from rebirth.

Vishishtadvaita: Differentiates cosmic dissolution from liberation, aligning with Viśiṣṭādvaita where mokṣa is the soul’s release from karma and entry into the Lord’s service, not mere absorption of the world-process.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Brahman (as an honorific address)

FAQs

What is the significance of prākṛta laya in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, prākṛta laya is presented as a completed topic—primordial dissolution tied to Prakṛti—after which the teaching moves to deeper, liberation-oriented themes.

How does Sage Parāśara transition to ātyantika laya and pratisaṃcara?

Parāśara signals a structured progression: having finished explaining cosmic dissolution at the level of nature (prākṛta), he instructs Maitreya to now grasp the ultimate dissolution (ātyantika) and the return-course/pratisaṃcara.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in this line, the Vishnu Purana frames these cycles of dissolution and re-emergence as occurring under the sovereignty of the Supreme Reality (Vishnu) who transcends Prakṛti and grants the ultimate end (ātyantika) through liberation.