Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

अग्न्यन्तकादिरूपेण भागेनान्येन वर्तते कालस्वरूपो भागो ऽन्यः सर्वभूतानि चापरः

Transliteration

agnyantakādirūpeṇa bhāgenānyena vartate kālasvarūpo bhāgo 'nyaḥ sarvabhūtāni cāparaḥ

Translation

மற்றொரு பங்காக அவர் அக்னி, அந்தக (மரணம்) முதலிய வடிவங்களாக இருக்கிறார். இன்னொரு பங்கு காலஸ்வரூபம்; மேலும் ஒரு பங்கு எல்லா உயிர்களும் ஆகும்.

Word by Word

• agni-antaka-ādi-rūpeṇa: by the form of Agni, Antaka, etc.
• agni-antaka-ādi-rūpeṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + antaka (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः (agni-antaka-ādi = द्वन्द्व/तत्पुरुष-समुच्चयार्थ, ततः तत्पुरुष: agnyantakādirūpa)

• bhāgena: by a portion
• bhāgena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• anyena: by another
• anyena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (bhāgena)

• vartate: exists/operates
• vartate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• kāla-svarūpaḥ: having the nature/form of Time
• kāla-svarūpaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + sva-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kālasya svarūpaḥ) विशेषण (bhāgaḥ)

• bhāgaḥ: portion
• bhāgaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• anyaḥ: another
• anyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (bhāgaḥ)

• sarvabhūtāni: all beings
• sarvabhūtāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (sarvāṇi bhūtāni)

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

• aparaḥ: another
• aparaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (bhāgaḥ implied)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Antaka (Death/Yama)
• Kāla (Time)
• Sarvabhūtāni (all beings)
• Vishnu (implied Supreme pervader)

FAQs

What is the significance of Time (Kāla) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Time as a divine aspect—an expression of the Supreme’s governance—through which cosmic change, decay, and order proceed.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Supreme’s presence in destructive forces like fire and death?

He frames Agni (fire) and Antaka (death) not as independent powers but as divine modes—‘portions’ through which the Supreme carries out dissolution and transformation.

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

Vishnu is implied as the all-pervading Supreme Reality whose aspects include Time, death, and the entirety of beings—supporting a theistic vision where the world is real and grounded in Him.