Shloka 36
वासुदेवस्वरूपनिरूपणं—सर्गक्रमश्च
Vāsudeva’s Nature and the Ordered Process of Creation
भूतेन्द्रियाणां हेतुः स त्रिगुणत्वान् महामुने यथा प्रधानेन महान् महता स तथावृतः
bhūtendriyāṇāṃ hetuḥ sa triguṇatvān mahāmune yathā pradhānena mahān mahatā sa tathāvṛtaḥ
اے مہامنی! تین گُنوں سے مرکّب ہونے کے سبب وہ بھوتوں اور حواس کا سبب بنتا ہے؛ جیسے مہان پرادھان سے ڈھکا ہے، ویسے ہی وہ بھی مہت تتّو سے اسی طرح محجوب ہے۔
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How the three-guṇa constitution of Ahaṃkāra becomes the cause of bhūtas and indriyas, and how each tattva is enveloped by its antecedent
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: revealing
Creation Stage: Primary
Concept: Ahaṃkāra, being tri-guṇic, functions as the causal ground of elements and senses, while remaining ‘covered’ by Mahat just as Mahat is covered by Pradhāna.
Vedantic Theme: Maya
Application: Use the notion of ‘āvaraṇa’ (covering) to observe how deeper conditioning hides subtler awareness; practice inward inquiry and devotion to the indwelling Lord to pierce layers of obscuration.
Vishishtadvaita: The world’s causal chain is not independent: each layer is supported and pervaded, aligning with the doctrine of the Lord as antaryāmin sustaining tattvas from within.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Antaryamin: Yes
Jagat Karana: Yes
FAQs
The verse links triguṇa-nature to causality: through sattva, rajas, and tamas the chain of manifestation proceeds, yielding the senses and the elements within creation.
Parāśara presents a layered cosmology where Mahat arises in relation to Pradhāna and is described as being ‘covered’ by it—indicating dependence and concealment within the unfolding of tattvas.
Even while using Sāṅkhya-style categories (Pradhāna, Mahat, guṇas), the Purāṇic intent is that the supreme sovereignty behind these processes is Vishnu, the ultimate ground in whom cosmic evolution is ordered.