Shloka 23

अविद्याबीज-निरूपणं, योगस्वरूप-उपदेशः, मूर्तहरिधारणा-समाधि, जनकवंशीय-राजर्षिसंवादः

Devanagari script

जलस्य नाग्निसंसर्गः स्थालीसङ्गात् तथापि हि शब्दोद्रेकादिकान् धर्मांस् तत् करोति यथा मुने

Transliteration

jalasya nāgnisaṃsargaḥ sthālīsaṅgāt tathāpi hi śabdodrekādikān dharmāṃs tat karoti yathā mune

Translation

ನೀರಿಗೆ ಅಗ್ನಿಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ನೇರ ಸಂಪರ್ಕವಿಲ್ಲ; ಆದರೂ ಪಾತ್ರೆ (ಸ್ಥಾಲಿ)ಯ ಸಂಗದಿಂದ ಅದು ಶಬ್ದವೃದ್ಧಿ ಮುಂತಾದ ಗುಣಗಳನ್ನು ತೋರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ—ಓ ಮುನಿಯೇ, ಹಾಗೆಯೇ.

Word by Word

जलस्यof water

नnot

अग्निसंसर्गःcontact with fire

स्थालीसङ्गात्from contact with the pot

तथापिnevertheless

हिindeed, for

शब्दोद्रेकादिकान्such as sound-increase etc.

धर्मान्properties

तत्that (it)

करोतिproduces, makes

यथाas, just as

मुनेO sage

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Characters & Entities

Sage Parāśara

Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of the water–pot–fire analogy in the Vishnu Purana?

It illustrates how a substance can exhibit new, observable properties through proximity and intermediary association, supporting the text’s explanation of how manifest qualities arise in the world-order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the appearance of properties without direct contact?

He uses causal reasoning: even without direct fire-contact, water can show effects (like heightened sound) because association with a vessel mediates the influence—an analogy for how prakṛti’s qualities become evident through conditions.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though the verse is framed as a causal example, the broader teaching situates such orderly manifestation under the supreme governance of Vishnu, in whom cosmic law and intelligibility ultimately rest.