Shloka 54

Devanagari script

ततो ब्रह्मा हरेर् दिव्यं विश्वरूपं समीक्ष्य तत् तुष्टाव भूयो देवेषु साध्वसावनतात्मसु

Transliteration

tato brahmā harer divyaṃ viśvarūpaṃ samīkṣya tat tuṣṭāva bhūyo deveṣu sādhvasāvanatātmasu

Translation

ثم إنّ براهما، إذ أبصر صورة هري الكونية الإلهية الشاملة، عاد فسبّحه من جديد؛ وكانت جموع الآلهة واقفة بقلوبٍ منحنية في رهبةٍ موقّرة وخضوع.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• divyam: divine
• divyam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• viśva-rūpam: universal form
• viśva-rūpam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (viśvaṃ rūpam), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• samīkṣya: having beheld
• samīkṣya: Kriya (Non-finite verbal modifier/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + √īkṣ (धातु) + ya (ल्यप्/क्त्वार्थ)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वर्थक-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive: having looked at), सम्-उपसर्ग

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (Object resumed/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• tuṣṭāva: praised
• tuṣṭāva: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √stu (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• bhūyaḥ: again, further
• bhūyaḥ: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरर्थक-अव्यय (again/further)

• deveṣu: among the gods
• deveṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन

• sādhvasā-avanata-ātmasu: whose minds were bowed down in awe
• sādhvasā-avanata-ātmasu: Visheshana (Qualifier of deveṣu/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sādhvasā + avanata + ātman (प्रातिपदिक-त्रय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (साध्वसावनताः आत्मानः येषां ते; loc. pl. as qualifier of deveṣu), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (via viśvarūpa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Direct vision of the Lord’s viśvarūpa naturally bows the mind into humility and renewed praise.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Approach worship with awe and humility; let contemplation of cosmic vastness dissolve ego and deepen devotion.

Vishishtadvaita: Devotion arises from recognizing the Lord as the encompassing whole, while devotees remain distinct, surrendered selves.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Devas

FAQs

What is the significance of the Viśvarūpa (cosmic form) in the Vishnu Purana?

It establishes Hari (Vishnu) as the all-containing Supreme Reality—seen directly by Brahmā—so creation and the gods are shown to be dependent on Him.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the gods’ reaction to Vishnu here?

Parāśara depicts the devas as inwardly bowed and overwhelmed by sādhvasa (reverent awe), highlighting Vishnu’s absolute majesty over the divine hierarchy.

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

Vishnu is presented as the transcendent source whom even Brahmā worships—supporting Vaishnava theology where Vishnu is supreme and other cosmic powers function under His will.