Shloka 2

Cosmic Appointments, Viṣṇu’s Vibhūtis, Fourfold Operation, and the Symbolism of Ornaments and Weapons

Devanagari script

नक्षत्रग्रहविप्राणां वीरुधां चाप्य् अशेषतः सोमं राज्ये ऽदधद् ब्रह्मा यज्ञानां तपसाम् अपि

Transliteration

nakṣatragrahaviprāṇāṃ vīrudhāṃ cāpy aśeṣataḥ somaṃ rājye 'dadhad brahmā yajñānāṃ tapasām api

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് സോമനെ രാജാധികാരത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിച്ചു—നക്ഷത്രങ്ങളുടെയും ഗ്രഹങ്ങളുടെയും മേൽ, ബ്രാഹ്മണന്മാരുടെയും, എല്ലാ ഔഷധിവള്ളികളുടെയും മേൽ; യജ്ഞങ്ങളുടെയും തപസ്സിന്റെയും അധിപതിയായി സോമനെയേയും നിയമിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• नक्षत्रग्रहविप्राणाम्: of the stars, planets, and sages
• नक्षत्रग्रहविप्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (नक्षत्राः च ग्रहाः च विप्राः च)

• वीरुधाम्: of the plants/creepers
• वीरुधाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरुध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Emphasis/Addition (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• अशेषतः: entirely; without remainder
• अशेषतः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण), तद्धितान्त—तसिल् (in every respect/entirely)

• सोमम्: Soma
• सोमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• राज्ये: in the sovereignty/kingdom (as ruler)
• राज्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• अदधत्: appointed/placed
• अदधत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; धातुः—धा (to place/appoint)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• यज्ञानाम्: of sacrifices
• यज्ञानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• तपसाम्: of austerities
• तपसाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Emphasis/Addition (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Cosmic administration: appointment of presiding deities over classes of beings and powers

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic order functions through appointed adhikāras (sovereignties) in which Soma presides over stellar time, plant potency, sacrifice, and tapas.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat time, ritual, and natural medicines as sacred trusts governed by higher order; align discipline (tapas) with reverence for cosmic rhythm.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s governance is mediated through real, distinct powers (devatās) that remain dependent modes of His order (śeṣa-śeṣi-bhāva).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Soma (Chandra)
• Nakṣatras
• Grahas
• Brāhmaṇas
• Oṣadhis/medicinal herbs
• Yajña
• Tapas

FAQs

What is the significance of Soma’s sovereignty in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Soma as a delegated cosmic ruler whose domain spans celestial order (nakṣatras and planets) and sacred vitality (herbs), linking the Moon to both timekeeping and nourishment in the universe.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic governance here?

Parāśara describes Brahmā assigning specific jurisdictions to deities—an administrative model of the cosmos where order is maintained through appointed lordships over natural and spiritual functions.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in this verse, the Purāṇic framework treats such delegated sovereignties as operating within the larger preservation of dharma—ultimately grounded in Vishnu as the supreme sustaining reality behind cosmic order.