Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 35

अध्याय १६ — शङ्कर-उमा-वरदानम् तथा तण्डि-स्तुतिः (Śaṅkara–Umā Boon-Granting and Taṇḍi’s Hymn)

Devanagari script

अतः: प्रवर्तते सर्वमस्मिन्‌ सर्व प्रतिष्ठितम्‌ । अम्मिंक्ष प्रलयं याति अयमेक: सनातन:

Transliteration

ataḥ pravartate sarvam asmin sarvaṁ pratiṣṭhitam | asmin eva pralayaṁ yāti ayam ekaḥ sanātanaḥ ||

Translation

因此，万有由他而起；宇宙悉皆安立于他；至于劫尽坏灭之时，一切复归融入于他。他独为永恒之人（常住之普鲁沙）——是一切众生恒常的根基、源头与终归。

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore; from this/that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः

• प्रवर्तते: proceeds; arises; comes into activity
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√वृत् (वर्तते)
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, 3, Singular

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अस्मिन्: in this (one); in him/it
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (अस्मद्-प्रत्ययान्त रूप)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतिष्ठितम्: is established; is founded
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति√स्था (प्रतिष्ठित)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अस्मिन्: in this (one); in him/it
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (अस्मद्-प्रत्ययान्त रूप)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• एव: indeed; just; only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• प्रलयम्: dissolution; destruction
• प्रलयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• याति: goes; attains
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (√या)
• Form: Present, Parasmaipada, 3, Singular

• अयम्: this (one); he
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (अयम्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एकः: one; single
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सनातनः: eternal; primeval
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva (speaker)
• Sanātana Puruṣa (the eternal Person; implied supreme being)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches a theistic-metaphysical unity: the supreme eternal Person is the origin (utpatti), support (sthiti/pratiṣṭhā), and end (pralaya) of the entire cosmos. Ethically, it grounds dharma in recognizing a single ultimate foundation beyond transient forms.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is speaking, affirming the supremacy and eternality of the one Puruṣa by describing the cosmic cycle—creation, sustenance, and dissolution—as dependent on and returning to Him.