Shloka 4

नैमित्तिक-प्राकृत-प्रलयवर्णनम्

Periodic and Elemental Dissolution; Reabsorption into Paramātman

Devanagari script

एकार्णवे ततस् तस्मिञ् शेषशय्यास्थितः प्रभुः ब्रह्मरूपधरः शेते भगवान् आदिकृद् धरिः

Transliteration

ekārṇave tatas tasmiñ śeṣaśayyāsthitaḥ prabhuḥ brahmarūpadharaḥ śete bhagavān ādikṛd dhariḥ

Translation

随后，在那一片一海之中，主宰之神——圣者哈利、原初的造作者——安卧于舍沙之床，示现梵天之相，准备再启创造。

Word by Word

• एकार्णवे: in the single ocean
• एकार्णवे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक-आर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (आर्णव-शब्दः पुंलिङ्गः; समासे), सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक (then)

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शेषशय्यास्थितः: lying/placed on the couch of Śeṣa
• शेषशय्यास्थितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष-शय्या-स्थित (प्रातिपदिक; √स्था क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शेषस्य शय्यायां स्थितः)

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मरूपधरः: bearing the form of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मरूपधरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म-रूप-धर (प्रातिपदिक; √धृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः रूपं धरति)

• शेते: lies/reposes
• शेते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• भगवान्: the Blessed One
• भगवान्: Apposition (Samānādhikaraṇa/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; प्रभुः इत्यस्य समानााधिकरणम्

• आदिकृत्: the primal creator
• आदिकृत्: Apposition (Samānādhikaraṇa/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि-कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आदिं करोति/आदिकर्ता)

• धरिः: Hari
• धरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: State of the Lord between dissolution and renewed creation

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Kalpa

Cosmic Hierarchy: Brahmanda

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After withdrawal, Hari rests on Śeṣa upon the cosmic ocean and assumes the Brahmā-role to initiate creation again.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Use the image of yoganidrā to cultivate trust in cyclical renewal and steadiness in practice during ‘dark’ phases of life.

Vishishtadvaita: Shows functional plurality within the one Supreme: the same Lord manifests as Brahmā for creation while remaining Hari, the ultimate cause.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari)
• Shesha (Ananta)
• Brahma

FAQs

What is the significance of the ekārṇava (single cosmic ocean) in the Vishnu Purana?

It represents the post-dissolution state where all forms are withdrawn, and creation exists in a latent condition within the Supreme Lord before a new cycle begins.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Lord’s role during pralaya and the return of creation?

Parāśara describes the Lord resting on Śeṣa in the cosmic waters and then taking on the Brahmā-aspect, indicating that the same Supreme Being governs both dissolution and renewed creation.

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

Vishnu (Hari) is presented as Bhagavān and ādikṛt—the ultimate sovereign cause—who can manifest the creative function (Brahmā-form) while remaining the Supreme Reality behind the cosmos.