Shloka 118
Invocations, Definition and Authority of Purāṇa, Pulastya–Bhīṣma Frame, and the Creation–Dissolution Schema
स्रष्टा सृजति चात्मानं विष्णुः पाल्यं च पाति च । उपसंह्रियते चापि संहर्त्ता च स्वयं प्रभुः
sraṣṭā sṛjati cātmānaṃ viṣṇuḥ pālyaṃ ca pāti ca | upasaṃhriyate cāpi saṃharttā ca svayaṃ prabhuḥ
Sebagai Pencipta, Dia melahirkan ciptaan daripada diri-Nya sendiri; sebagai Viṣṇu, Dia memelihara yang wajar dipelihara; dan pada pralaya semuanya kembali terserap ke dalam-Nya—sesungguhnya, Tuhan itu sendiri jugalah Sang Pemusnah.
Unspecified (narrative voice within Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa context)
Concept: The Lord is self-originating creator, Vishnu the protector, and also the withdrawer/destroyer—one प्रभु performing all cosmic roles.
Application: Anchor trust in a single divine governance: act responsibly (dharma) while surrendering outcomes; cultivate protective compassion as an imitation of Vishnu’s pālana.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A triptych-like cosmic tableau merges into one figure: the Lord emanates a universe from his own luminous heart, extends a protective hand over living beings, and gently draws the cosmos back into himself like a breath returning. The scene communicates not violence but sovereign completeness—creation, care, and reabsorption as one continuous divine rhythm.","primary_figures":["The Lord (Vishnu as supreme प्रभु)"],"setting":"Cosmic mandala showing three phases—emanation, protection, reabsorption—blended into a single circular composition","lighting_mood":"divine radiance with calm clarity","color_palette":["radiant gold","sapphire blue","ivory white","vermillion","forest green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central Vishnu enthroned with a large gold leaf halo; left side shows miniature worlds emerging from a lotus/heart radiance, right side shows beings sheltered under his abhaya hand, lower arc shows the cosmos dissolving into a luminous spiral back to him; rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, ornate arch and gold embossing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: elegant circular composition with Vishnu at center, delicate vignettes of creation/protection/dissolution around him, soft blues and ivories, refined facial features, lyrical clouds and subtle stars, gentle narrative clarity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic Vishnu with bold outlines; three surrounding medallions for sṛṣṭi-sthiti-laya using symbolic motifs (lotus, protective palm, inward spiral), strong red/yellow/green palette, temple-wall aesthetic and patterned borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Vishnu-centered mandala with concentric lotus rings; outer ring shows tiny scenes of beings protected, inner ring shows worlds emerging and returning; deep blue ground with gold highlights, intricate floral borders, symmetrical devotional layout."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","soft temple bells","conch shell (gentle, concluding)","silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चात्मानं → च आत्मानम्; चापि → च अपि; संहर्त्ता → संहर्ता (agent noun; orthographic doubling in some editions).
FAQs
It emphasizes a single supreme Lord who performs creation, preservation (as Viṣṇu), and dissolution—presenting the cosmic functions as unified in one प्रभु (Prabhu).
It suggests creation is not external to the divine; the world proceeds from the Lord’s own being/power, supporting an emanation-and-reabsorption view of cosmology.
Seeing the same Lord behind arising, sustaining, and ending of all things fosters steadiness and devotion, reducing fear of change by grounding it in divine sovereignty.