Shloka 29
Invocations, Definition and Authority of Purāṇa, Pulastya–Bhīṣma Frame, and the Creation–Dissolution Schema
नैमित्तिकः प्राकृतिकस्तथैवात्यंतिकः स्मृतः । त्रिविधः सर्वभूतानां कल्पितः प्रतिसंचरः
naimittikaḥ prākṛtikastathaivātyaṃtikaḥ smṛtaḥ | trividhaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ kalpitaḥ pratisaṃcaraḥ
प्राणियों का प्रतिसंहार तीन प्रकार का माना गया है—नैमित्तिक, प्राकृतिक तथा अत्यन्तिक। इस प्रकार समस्त जीवों के लिए लय त्रिविध रूप से कल्पित है।
Unspecified (narratorial/expository voice within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa context)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: celestial_realm
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तथैवात्यंतिकः = तथा + एव + अत्यंतिकः; प्राकृतिकस्तथा = प्राकृतिकः + तथा; सर्वभूतानां (समास) = सर्व + भूतानाम्.
FAQs
They are (1) naimittika—occasional dissolution at the end of a cosmic cycle, (2) prākṛtika—dissolution where elements return into primordial Nature (Prakṛti), and (3) ātyantika—absolute dissolution meaning liberation, where the individual’s bondage ends.
Cosmic dissolutions (naimittika/prākṛtika) concern the universe’s periodic withdrawal and re-manifestation, while ātyantika pralaya refers to the individual’s final release (mokṣa), not followed by re-entry into saṃsāra.
It frames worldly endings as part of cosmic order while pointing to a higher aim: pursuing liberation (ātyantika) through spiritual discipline, since that ‘dissolution’ ends suffering permanently.