Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 27
Viśvarūpa’s Death, Vṛtrāsura’s Manifestation, and the Devas’ Surrender to Nārāyaṇa
यो न: सपत्नैर्भृशमर्द्यमानान् देवर्षितिर्यङ्नृषु नित्य एव । कृतावतारस्तनुभि: स्वमायया कृत्वात्मसात् पाति युगे युगे च ॥ २६ ॥ तमेव देवं वयमात्मदैवतं परं प्रधानं पुरुषं विश्वमन्यम् । व्रजाम सर्वे शरणं शरण्यं स्वानां स नो धास्यति शं महात्मा ॥ २७ ॥
yo naḥ sapatnair bhṛśam ardyamānān devarṣi-tiryaṅ-nṛṣu nitya eva kṛtāvatāras tanubhiḥ sva-māyayā kṛtvātmasāt pāti yuge yuge ca
By His inconceivable internal potency, the Supreme Personality of Godhead expands into various transcendental bodies as Vāmanadeva, the incarnation of strength among the demigods; Paraśurāma, the incarnation among saints; Nṛsiṁhadeva and Varāha, incarnations among animals; and Matsya and Kūrma, incarnations among aquatics. He accepts various transcendental bodies among all types of living entities, and among human beings He especially appears as Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Rāma. By His causeless mercy, He protects the demigods, who are always harassed by the demons. He is the supreme worshipable Deity of all living entities. He is the supreme cause, represented as the male and female creative energies. Although different from this universe, He exists in His universal form [virāṭ-rūpa]. In our fearful condition, let us take shelter of Him, for we are sure that the Supreme Lord, the Supreme Soul, will give us His protection.
In this verse, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, is ascertained to be the original cause of creation. Śrīdhara Svāmī, in his commentary Bhāvārtha-dīpikā, replies to the idea that prakṛti and puruṣa are the causes of the cosmic manifestation. As stated herein, paraṁ pradhānaṁ puruṣaṁ viśvam anyam: “He is the supreme cause, represented as the male and female creative energies. Although different from this universe, He exists in His universal form [ virāṭ rūpa ].” The word prakṛti, which is used to indicate the source of generation, refers to the material energy of the Supreme Lord, and the word puruṣa refers to the living entities, who are the superior energy of the Lord. Both the prakṛti and puruṣa ultimately enter the Supreme Lord, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā ( prakṛtiṁ yānti māmikām ).
FAQs
This verse states that the Supreme Lord repeatedly appears in various forms by His own potency and protects those who take shelter of Him, age after age.
In the midst of conflict and danger, Vṛtrāsura remembers that the Lord eternally intervenes for the protection of His surrendered devotees by descending in suitable forms.
Rather than relying only on fear or retaliation, the verse advises inner surrender—remembering the Lord’s guardianship and aligning one’s actions with devotion and dharma.