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Shloka 39

Brahmā’s Creation: The Kumāras, Rudra, the Prajāpatis, and the Manifestation of Vedic Sound

इतिहासपुराणानि पञ्चमं वेदमीश्वर: । सर्वेभ्य एव वक्त्रेभ्य: ससृजे सर्वदर्शन: ॥ ३९ ॥

itihāsa-purāṇāni pañcamaṁ vedam īśvaraḥ sarvebhya eva vaktrebhyaḥ sasṛje sarva-darśanaḥ

ਫਿਰ ਸਰਵਦਰਸ਼ੀ ਈਸ਼ਵਰ ਨੇ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਅਤੇ ਪੁਰਾਣਾਂ ਨੂੰ ‘ਪੰਜਵਾਂ ਵੇਦ’ ਬਣਾਕੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਸਭ ਮੁਖਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਰਚਿਆ, ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਉਹ ਭੂਤ-ਵਰਤਮਾਨ-ਭਵਿੱਖ ਸਭ ਕੁਝ ਵੇਖਦਾ ਹੈ।

इतिहास-पुराणानिthe Itihāsas and Purāṇas
इतिहास-पुराणानि:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootइतिहास (प्रातिपदिक) + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः: ‘इतिहासाः च पुराणानि च’ (as a set)
पञ्चमम्the fifth
पञ्चमम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootपञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक/क्रमवाचक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम् (ordinal adjective)
वेदम्Veda
वेदम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवेद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
ईश्वरःthe Lord
ईश्वरः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
सर्वेभ्यःfrom all
सर्वेभ्यः:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), बहुवचन; ‘from all’
एवindeed
एव:
Nipata (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (emphatic particle)
वक्त्रेभ्यःfrom the mouths/faces
वक्त्रेभ्यः:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootवक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), बहुवचन
ससृजेcreated
ससृजे:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootसृज् (धातु)
Formलिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम् (sasarje)
सर्व-दर्शनःall-seeing
सर्व-दर्शनः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: ‘सर्वं दर्शनं यस्य’ (one who sees/knows all)

There are histories of particular countries and nations and of the world, but the Purāṇas are the histories of the universe, not only in one millennium but in many kalpas. Brahmā has knowledge of those historical facts, and therefore all the Purāṇas are histories. As originally composed by Brahmā, they are part of the Vedas and are called the fifth Veda.

Ī
Īśvara (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

This verse states that the Supreme Lord manifested the Itihāsas and Purāṇas as the “fifth Veda,” affirming them as a genuine Vedic source of dharma and spiritual knowledge.

In the creation context of Canto 3, the verse emphasizes divine origin—sacred histories and Purāṇas are not merely human compositions but revealed knowledge meant to guide souls.

Treat Purāṇic teachings—especially Bhāgavatam narratives and conclusions—as a trustworthy spiritual guide: study regularly, reflect on dharma, and apply devotion-centered principles in daily decisions.