Shloka 13
Dynastic Enumeration and the Threefold Pralaya (वंशानुकीर्तनं—प्रलयत्रयवर्णनम्)
नैमित्तिकः प्राकृतिकस्तथैवात्यन्तिको लयः / याति भूः प्रलयं चाप्सु ह्यापस्तेजसि पावकः
naimittikaḥ prākṛtikastathaivātyantiko layaḥ / yāti bhūḥ pralayaṃ cāpsu hyāpastejasi pāvakaḥ
ความล่มสลาย (ลยะ) มีสามอย่าง: ไนมิตติกะ ปรากฤติกะ และอาตยันติกะ. ครั้นปรลัย แผ่นดินรวมสู่ธาตุน้ำ; น้ำรวมสู่ไฟ; และไฟรวมสู่เตชัสคือรัศมี.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)
Concept: Threefold pralaya (naimittika, prākṛtika, ātyantika) and the laya-krama where gross elements dissolve into subtler ones (bhūmi→āpas→agni→tejas).
Vedantic Theme: Viveka between the transient (nāma-rūpa, bhūtas) and the enduring ground; movement from gross to subtle as a pointer toward the unconditioned.
Application: Contemplate impermanence to reduce attachment; use the dissolution sequence as a meditation ladder from gross experience to subtle awareness.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.141.14 (continuation of dissolution chain into ahaṅkāra, buddhi, avyakta)
FAQs
This verse frames pralaya as a structured doctrine—periodic, primordial, and absolute—showing that creation and dissolution follow an intelligible elemental order rather than randomness.
It states a sequential absorption: earth is dissolved into water, water into fire, and fire into tejas (radiance), indicating progressive subtlety as gross elements merge into subtler principles.
Reflecting on impermanence reduces attachment and supports dharmic living—using life responsibly while remembering that all composite forms ultimately return to subtler states.