Shloka 36
Kṛṣṇa Defeats Bāṇāsura and Receives Śiva’s Prayers
The Śoṇitapura Battle and the Jvara Episode
नाभिर्नभोऽग्निर्मुखमम्बु रेतो द्यौ: शीर्षमाशा: श्रुतिरङ्घ्रिरुर्वी । चन्द्रो मनो यस्य दृगर्क आत्मा अहं समुद्रो जठरं भुजेन्द्र: ॥ ३५ ॥ रोमाणि यस्यौषधयोऽम्बुवाहा: केशा विरिञ्चो धिषणा विसर्ग: । प्रजापतिर्हृदयं यस्य धर्म: स वै भवान् पुरुषो लोककल्प: ॥ ३६ ॥
nābhir nabho ’gnir mukham ambu reto dyauḥ śīrṣam āśāḥ śrutir aṅghrir urvī candro mano yasya dṛg arka ātmā ahaṁ samudro jaṭharaṁ bhujendraḥ
Heilkräuter sind die Haare Deines Leibes, und wassertragende Wolken sind Dein Haupthaar; Virinci (Brahmā) ist Deine Intelligenz, und das Ausströmen der Schöpfung ist Dein Hervorgehen. Prajāpati ist Dein zeugendes Organ und Dharma ist Dein Herz: Du bist wahrlich der ursprüngliche Puruṣa, der die Welten gestaltet.
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that just as the tiny bugs living inside a fruit cannot comprehend the fruit, so we tiny living beings cannot understand the Supreme Absolute Truth, in whom we exist. It is difficult to understand the cosmic manifestation of the Lord, what to speak of His transcendental form as Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Therefore we should surrender in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and the Lord Himself will help us understand.
FAQs
In this verse, Śiva identifies cosmic elements—sky, fire, moon, sun, oceans, earth, and even Brahmā and Prajāpati—as limbs and functions of the Supreme Person, showing the universe as His integrated body and power.
In the narrative surrounding the Bāṇāsura episode, Śiva recognizes Kṛṣṇa’s supremacy and offers prayers that affirm Kṛṣṇa as the cosmic source (puruṣa) who arranges and sustains all worlds.
Seeing the world as pervaded by the Divine cultivates humility, gratitude, and dharmic living—treating nature, other beings, and daily duties as connected to service and reverence for the Supreme.