Shloka 16

भार्गवसर्गः, ऋषिवंशाः, वह्नयः (अग्निवंशः), पितृसृष्टिः

Devanagari script

तेषां तु संतताव् अन्ये चत्वारिंशच् च पञ्च च कथ्यन्ते वह्नयश् चैते पिता पुत्रत्रयं च यत्

Transliteration

teṣāṃ tu saṃtatāv anye catvāriṃśac ca pañca ca kathyante vahnayaś caite pitā putratrayaṃ ca yat

Translation

彼らの系譜から、さらに四十五が語られる—これらが「ヴァフナヤ」と呼ばれる諸火である。しかもその中には、父一人と三人の子から成る一組があると伝えられる。

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयबोधक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• संततौ: in the lineage/descendants
• संततौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संतति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• चत्वारिंशत्: forty
• चत्वारिंशत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चत्वारिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचनार्थे (qualifies अन्ये)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचनार्थे (adds to count)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कथ्यन्ते: are said/are called
• कथ्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• वह्नयः: fires (Agni-beings)
• वह्नयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; निर्देशार्थ

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पुत्रत्रयम्: a triad of sons / three sons (as a set)
• पुत्रत्रयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र-त्रय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु: ‘त्रयः पुत्राः’ (group of three sons)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative) — ‘which/that’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Enumeration of Agni-lineages and the classification of cosmic fires (vahnayas)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Multiplicity in the cosmos is presented as a traceable succession (saṃtati) with precise enumerations, reflecting an intelligible order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Adopt systematic study and reflection—map causes and effects in one’s habits to cultivate clarity and steadiness.

Vishishtadvaita: Ordered plurality (many fires) coexists with an underlying unity of governance, supporting a non-dual reality qualified by real distinctions.

Characters & Entities

• Vahnayas (Fires/Agni-class beings)
• Agni (as the principle of Fire)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Vahnayas (Fires) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats the Fires as a distinct, countable class within creation, emphasizing that cosmic functions (like fire) are organized through lineages and enumerations within Vishnu’s ordered universe.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic order through genealogy here?

Parāśara presents even elemental powers as structured progeny—numbered groups with internal relations (father and three sons)—showing creation as an intelligible hierarchy rather than a random emergence.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s framework implies these enumerated beings operate within the Supreme Reality’s (Vishnu’s) governance, reinforcing the doctrine of a divinely sustained cosmic order.