Shloka 140
कृतयुगवर्णनम् तथा राजधर्मोपदेशः
Kṛtayuga Description and Instruction on Royal Dharma
इह भूत्वा शिशु: साक्षात् कि भवानवतिष्ठते । पीत्वा जगदिदं सर्वमेतदाख्यातुमहसि,“आप इस सम्पूर्ण जगत्को पी करके यहाँ साक्षात् बालकवेषमें क्यों विराजमान हैं? यह सब बतानेकी कृपा करें
iha bhūtvā śiśuḥ sākṣāt kiṁ bhavān avatiṣṭhate | pītvā jagad idaṁ sarvam etad ākhyātum arhasi ||
يا ربّ، وقد تجلّيتَ هنا في صورة طفلٍ ظاهرة للعيان، فلماذا تمكث على هذه الحال؟ وبعد أن شربتَ هذا الكون كلَّه وابتلعته، فجديرٌ بك أن تبيّن ذلك—فأخبرني، أرجوك، كيف يكون هذا؟
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a classic epic motif: the finite eye beholds an impossible cosmic act (the universe swallowed) and responds with reverent inquiry. Ethically, it models humility before the mysterious and the duty to seek clarification from a worthy source rather than speculate.
A speaker (introduced as Vaiśampāyana) reports a question addressed to a being appearing as a child: after witnessing that this being has ‘drunk’ the entire universe, the questioner asks why the being remains here in child-form and requests an explanation of the marvel.