Shloka 4

Avatāra-kathā — The Puruṣa, the Many Incarnations, and Kṛṣṇa as Svayam Bhagavān

Devanagari script

पश्यन्त्यदो रूपमदभ्रचक्षुषा सहस्रपादोरुभुजाननाद्भुतम् । सहस्रमूर्धश्रवणाक्षिनासिकं सहस्रमौल्यम्बरकुण्डलोल्लसत् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

paśyanty ado rūpam adabhra-cakṣuṣā sahasra-pādoru-bhujānanādbhutam sahasra-mūrdha-śravaṇākṣi-nāsikaṁ sahasra-mauly-ambara-kuṇḍalollasat

Translation

Die Geweihten schauen mit reiner, vollkommener Sicht die transzendente Gestalt des Puruṣa: mit tausend Füßen, Schenkeln, Armen und wunderbaren Gesichtern. In diesem Leib sind tausend Häupter, Ohren, Augen und Nasen; geschmückt mit tausend Kronen, leuchtenden Ohrringen und Blumengirlanden.

Synonyms

• paśyanti: they see
• paśyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• adaḥ: that (yonder)
• adaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• rūpam: form
• rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• adabhra-cakṣuṣā: with unblinking/undimmed sight
• adabhra-cakṣuṣā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adabhra (प्रातिपदिक) + cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• sahasra-pāda-ūru-bhuja-ānana-adbhutam: wonderful, with thousands of feet, thighs, arms, and faces
• sahasra-pāda-ūru-bhuja-ānana-adbhutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + ūru (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक) + adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); rūpam इति विशेषणम्

• sahasra-mūrdha-śravaṇa-akṣi-nāsikam: having thousands of heads, ears, eyes, and noses
• sahasra-mūrdha-śravaṇa-akṣi-nāsikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक) + śravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + nāsikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); rūpam इति विशेषणम्

• sahasra-mauli-ambara-kuṇḍala-ullasat: shining with thousands of crowns, garments, and earrings
• sahasra-mauli-ambara-kuṇḍala-ullasat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + mauli (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक) + ullasat (उल्लसत्; कृदन्त from √las/√ullas धातु)
• Form: बहुपद-कर्मधारय-समास; ullasat = वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), परस्मैपद-प्रयोग; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); rūpam इति विशेषणम्

Purport

With our present materialized senses we cannot perceive anything of the transcendental Lord. Our present senses are to be rectified by the process of devotional service, and then the Lord Himself becomes revealed to us. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is confirmed that the transcendental Lord can be perceived only by pure devotional service. So it is confirmed in the Vedas that only devotional service can lead one to the side of the Lord and that only devotional service can reveal Him. In the Brahma-saṁhitā also it is said that the Lord is always visible to the devotees whose eyes have been anointed with the tinge of devotional service. So we have to take information of the transcendental form of the Lord from persons who have actually seen Him with perfect eyes smeared with devotional service. In the material world also we do not always see things with our own eyes; we sometimes see through the experience of those who have actually seen or done things. If that is the process for experiencing a mundane object, it is more perfectly applicable in matters transcendental. So only with patience and perseverance can we realize the transcendental subject matter regarding the Absolute Truth and His different forms. He is formless to the neophytes, but He is in transcendental form to the expert servitor.

Characters & Entities

• Nārāyaṇa (Virāṭ-rūpa / Universal Form)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Viśvarūpa (universal form)?

This verse describes the Lord’s universal form as having thousands of limbs and senses, dazzling with ornaments—an awe-inspiring vision that reveals His all-pervading majesty.

Why does Sūta Gosvāmī describe such a vast form in Canto 1 Chapter 3?

In the chapter listing divine incarnations, Sūta highlights the Lord’s supreme opulence (aiśvarya) by portraying the universal form, establishing that all manifestations rest in Him.

Practical application of contemplating the universal form in modern life?

It trains the mind to see the Divine presence behind the cosmos, reducing ego and anxiety while strengthening reverence, gratitude, and steady devotional remembrance.