Shloka 6

नैमित्तिक-प्राकृत-प्रलयवर्णनम्

Periodic and Elemental Dissolution; Reabsorption into Paramātman

Devanagari script

आत्ममायामयीं दिव्यां योगनिद्रां समास्थितः आत्मानं वासुदेवाख्यं चिन्तयन् परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

ātmamāyāmayīṃ divyāṃ yoganidrāṃ samāsthitaḥ ātmānaṃ vāsudevākhyaṃ cintayan parameśvaraḥ

Translation

The Supreme Lord entered the divine Yogic Sleep born of His own Māyā, and remained absorbed, contemplating His very Self known as Vāsudeva.

Word by Word

• आत्ममायामयीम्: consisting of (his) own māyā
• आत्ममायामयीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्म-माया-मयी (प्रातिपदिक; मयट्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (योगनिद्रां विशेषयति)

• दिव्याम्: divine
• दिव्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• योगनिद्राम्: yoga-sleep (mystic slumber)
• योगनिद्राम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग-निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समास्थितः: having entered/assumed
• समास्थितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः—‘स्थितः/आस्थितः’

• आत्मानम्: himself (the self)
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वासुदेवाख्यम्: named Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवाख्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वासुदेव-आख्य (प्रातिपदिक; आख्य = नामधेय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (आत्मानं विशेषयति)

• चिन्तयन्: contemplating
• चिन्तयन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कर्तरि शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावेन सहायकक्रिया

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s yoganidrā—His own māyā-power—marks the withdrawal of manifest activity while He remains self-established as Vāsudeva.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Contemplate divine sovereignty: cultivate inner stillness (nididhyāsana) by resting the mind in the Self beyond changing phenomena.

Vishishtadvaita: Vishnu remains the same conscious Lord while His māyā-shakti governs manifestation and withdrawal, indicating immanence without loss of transcendence.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Vyuha Form: Vasudeva

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vasudeva
• Yoga-nidra
• Maya

FAQs

What is the significance of Yoga Nidra in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse, Yoga Nidra is the Lord’s divine, self-willed repose during cosmic dissolution—showing that creation and rest both occur under Vishnu’s sovereign control, not due to limitation or ignorance.

How does Sage Parasara explain the role of Māyā here?

Parāśara describes Māyā as ‘ātma-māyā’—belonging to and arising from the Lord—indicating that the power that projects the cosmos is subordinate to Vishnu and functions by His intent.

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

Calling Him Vāsudeva emphasizes Vishnu as the all-pervading Supreme Self, the ground of existence who remains self-aware and complete even in pralaya, aligning with later Vishishtadvaita and Dvaita readings of Vishnu’s supremacy.