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Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 9

Paramparā of the Atharva Veda and Purāṇas; Definition of a Purāṇa

Daśa-lakṣaṇam

Devanagari script

सर्गोऽस्याथ विसर्गश्च वृत्तिरक्षान्तराणि च । वंशो वंशानुचरितं संस्था हेतुरपाश्रय: ॥ ९ ॥ दशभिर्लक्षणैर्युक्तं पुराणं तद्विदो विदु: । केचित् पञ्चविधं ब्रह्मन् महदल्पव्यवस्थया ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

sargo ’syātha visargaś ca vṛtti-rakṣāntarāṇi ca vaṁśo vaṁśānucaritaṁ saṁsthā hetur apāśrayaḥ

Translation

โอ พราหมณ์! บัณฑิตกล่าวว่า “ปุราณะ” มีลักษณะสิบประการ คือ การสร้าง (สรรคะ), การสร้างต่อเนื่อง (วิสรรคะ), การยังชีพ/การค้ำจุน (วฤตติ), การคุ้มครอง, ยุคของมนู, ราชวงศ์, ประวัติราชวงศ์, การล่มสลาย (ปรลัย), แรงจูงใจ (เหตุ) และที่พึ่งสูงสุด (อปาศรยะ) บางท่านว่า มหาปุราณะกล่าวครบสิบ ส่วนปุราณะย่อกล่าวห้าประการ

Synonyms
सर्गःcreation (primary)
सर्गः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
अस्यof it (of the Purāṇa)
अस्य:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootइदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
अथthen
अथ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ (अव्यय)
Formअनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (particle: then/next)
विसर्गःsecondary creation
विसर्गः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootविसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
चand
च:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
वृत्तिःlivelihood/means of sustenance
वृत्तिः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
रक्षाprotection
रक्षा:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootरक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
अन्तराणिreigns/periods (of Manus etc.)
अन्तराणि:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootअन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
चand
च:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
वंशःdynasty/lineage
वंशः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootवंश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
वंशानुचरितम्accounts of the dynasties (genealogical histories)
वंशानुचरितम्:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootवंश (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुचरित (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वंशस्य अनुचरितम् = account of the dynasties)
संस्थाdissolution/withdrawal (of the cosmos)
संस्था:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootसंस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
हेतुःcause
हेतुः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootहेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
अपाश्रयःsupreme shelter/support (ultimate refuge)
अपाश्रयः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootअपाश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
दशभिःwith ten
दशभिः:
Karana (करण/instrument)
TypeAdjective
Rootदशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
Formतृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण
लक्षणैःcharacteristics
लक्षणैः:
Karana (करण/instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootलक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
युक्तम्endowed (with)
युक्तम्:
Kriya (क्रिया/participial predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootयुज् (धातु)
Formकृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
पुराणम्a Purāṇa
पुराणम्:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootपुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
तद्विदःthose who know it
तद्विदः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक: विद्/विद्वस्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तत् विदन्ति ये = those who know that)
विदुःknow
विदुः:
Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
TypeVerb
Rootविद् (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
केचित्some (people)
केचित्:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootक (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय)
Formअनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun); प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (some)
पञ्चविधम्fivefold
पञ्चविधम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootपञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (fivefold)
ब्रह्मन्O brāhmaṇa
ब्रह्मन्:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन
महत्great
महत्:
Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied ‘पुराणम्/लक्षणम्’)
अल्पsmall/brief
अल्प:
Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootअल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण
व्यवस्थयाby arrangement/classification
व्यवस्थया:
Karana (करण/instrument/manner)
TypeNoun
Rootव्यवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
Purport

The ten subjects of a great Purāṇa are also described in the Second Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.10.1) :

FAQs

This verse lists key Purāṇic subjects: creation (sarga, visarga), sustenance and protection, Manvantara periods, dynasties and their histories, dissolution, the supreme cause, and the ultimate shelter (apāśraya—Bhagavān).

Apāśraya refers to the final refuge and foundation of all topics—the Absolute Truth, ultimately understood as Bhagavān, upon whom creation, maintenance, and dissolution depend.

They train a devotee to see life within a divine framework—recognizing God’s protection, the temporary nature of worldly cycles, and taking shelter of Bhagavān as life’s stable goal.

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