Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 5
Vibhūti-yoga in the Bhāgavata: The Lord’s Manifest Opulences and the Discipline of Control
या: काश्च भूमौ दिवि वै रसायां विभूतयो दिक्षु महाविभूते । ता मह्यमाख्याह्यनुभावितास्ते नमामि ते तीर्थपदाङ्घ्रिपद्मम् ॥ ५ ॥
yāḥ kāś ca bhūmau divi vai rasāyāṁ vibhūtayo dikṣu mahā-vibhūte tā mahyam ākhyāhy anubhāvitās te namāmi te tīrtha-padāṅghri-padmam
O Herr von höchster Macht, bitte erkläre mir Deine unzähligen vibhūtis, die Du auf Erden, im Himmel, in den Unterwelten und in allen Richtungen offenbarst. Ich erweise Deinen Lotosfüßen meine ehrerbietige Verneigung, dem Zufluchtsort aller heiligen Stätten.
Uddhava here inquires about the Lord’s material and spiritual potencies, as manifested within our universe. Just as ordinary animals or insects living in human cities cannot appreciate the scientific, cultural or military achievements of man, similarly, foolish materialists cannot appreciate the mighty opulences of the Personality of Godhead, even those manifested within our universe. For the appreciation of ordinary human beings Uddhava requests the Lord to reveal exactly how and in what forms He expands His potencies. As already explained, the Lord is the essential ingredient of all that exists, and thus any mighty or opulent manifestation must ultimately rest on the Lord Himself.
FAQs
This verse shows Uddhava requesting Krishna to explain His vibhutis—His extraordinary manifestations of power and greatness present throughout earth, heaven, the subterranean realms, and all directions—so that devotion can be strengthened through understanding the Lord’s supremacy.
In the Uddhava-gītā section, Uddhava seeks deeper realization of Krishna’s supreme position. By hearing the Lord’s vibhutis, Uddhava can better perceive Krishna’s presence everywhere and naturally deepen surrender to His lotus feet.
Treat devotion as the primary “pilgrimage”: regularly remember, honor, and serve Krishna’s lotus feet through prayer, chanting, and ethical living—seeing spiritual purification as coming from connection with the Lord rather than only from external travel.