Shloka 12
The Universal Form (Virāṭ-Puruṣa): The Lord’s Entry into the Elements, the Devas, and the Origin of Varṇāśrama
तस्याग्निरास्यं निर्भिन्नं लोकपालोऽविशत्पदम् । वाचा स्वांशेन वक्तव्यं ययासौ प्रतिपद्यते ॥ १२ ॥
tasyāgnir āsyaṁ nirbhinnaṁ loka-pālo ’viśat padam vācā svāṁśena vaktavyaṁ yayāsau pratipadyate
From His mouth Agni, the principle of heat, became manifest, and the governors of material affairs entered there in their respective posts. By that portion of energy the living being expresses himself in speech.
The mouth of the gigantic universal form of the Lord is the source of the speaking power. The director of the fire element is the controlling deity, or the ādhidaiva. The speeches delivered are ādhyātma, or bodily functions, and the subject matter of the speeches is material productions, or the ādhibhūta principle.
FAQs
It explains that when the Universal Form’s mouth manifested, speech entered as a divine potency (aṁśa) enabling beings to speak and convey meaning.
Because Agni is the presiding deity connected with the mouth—fire governs digestion and transformative power, and thus takes his functional position when the cosmic mouth appears.
It reminds one to treat speech as sacred energy—use words for truth, devotion, and upliftment, not harm—since vāk is described as a divine potency meant for meaningful expression.