Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 28
Bali Mahārāja Upholds Truth; Vāmana Reveals the Universal Form and Takes the Two Steps
हृद्यङ्ग धर्मं स्तनयोर्मुरारे- र्ऋतं च सत्यं च मनस्यथेन्दुम् । श्रियं च वक्षस्यरविन्दहस्तां कण्ठे च सामानि समस्तरेफान् ॥ २५ ॥ इन्द्रप्रधानानमरान्भुजेषु तत्कर्णयो: ककुभो द्यौश्च मूर्ध्नि । केशेषु मेघाञ्छ्वसनं नासिकाया- मक्ष्णोश्च सूर्यं वदने च वह्निम् ॥ २६ ॥ वाण्यां च छन्दांसि रसे जलेशं भ्रुवोर्निषेधं च विधिं च पक्ष्मसु । अहश्च रात्रिं च परस्य पुंसो मन्युं ललाटेऽधर एव लोभम् ॥ २७ ॥ स्पर्शे च कामं नृप रेतसाम्भ: पृष्ठे त्वधर्मं क्रमणेषु यज्ञम् । छायासु मृत्युं हसिते च मायां तनूरुहेष्वोषधिजातयश्च ॥ २८ ॥ नदीश्च नाडीषु शिला नखेषु बुद्धावजं देवगणानृषींश्च । प्राणेषु गात्रे स्थिरजङ्गमानि सर्वाणि भूतानि ददर्श वीर: ॥ २९ ॥
hṛdy aṅga dharmaṁ stanayor murārer ṛtaṁ ca satyaṁ ca manasy athendum śriyaṁ ca vakṣasy aravinda-hastāṁ kaṇṭhe ca sāmāni samasta-rephān
Thus Bali Mahārāja beheld within the Lord’s virāṭ body: from the heart to the senses, principles such as dharma; in His speech, Vedic meters and mantras; in His veins, the rivers; in His intelligence, Brahmā and the exalted ones; and throughout His whole form with prāṇa, all beings—moving and unmoving—as though the entire universe were gathered within that Puruṣottama.
FAQs
This verse places māyā within ordinary experiences—specifically laughter—showing how illusion can subtly cover reality even in seemingly harmless expressions, as part of the Lord’s all-pervading cosmic arrangement.
Parīkṣit was hearing the Bhagavatam to attain liberation before death; Śukadeva describes the universal form to expand the king’s vision from bodily identity to the Lord’s all-encompassing presence behind all phenomena.
Use daily sensations and emotions as reminders of spiritual vigilance—recognize how desire can arise through touch and how illusion can hide in entertainment—then redirect attention toward devotion, self-control, and remembrance of the Supreme.