Shloka 23
The Universal Form (Virāṭ-Puruṣa): The Lord’s Entry into the Elements, the Devas, and the Origin of Varṇāśrama
बुद्धिं चास्य विनिर्भिन्नां वागीशो धिष्ण्यमाविशत् । बोधेनांशेन बोद्धव्यम् प्रतिपत्तिर्यतो भवेत् ॥ २३ ॥
buddhiṁ cāsya vinirbhinnāṁ vāg-īśo dhiṣṇyam āviśat bodhenāṁśena boddhavyam pratipattir yato bhavet
When the intelligence of the universal gigantic form manifested separately, Brahmā, lord of the Vedas and master of speech, entered it with a portion of the power of understanding; thus living beings experience the object to be known.
FAQs
This verse teaches that when intelligence becomes manifest, true comprehension (pratipatti) arises through a portion of awakened knowledge—showing that realization comes from illumined cognition, not mere information.
Vāgīśa is the presiding deity of speech. In the description of cosmic manifestation, deities enter their respective abodes (organs/fields) of the universal form to activate function—here, speech and the intelligible expression connected with buddhi.
Cultivate awakened knowledge through śravaṇa (hearing), manana (reflection), and bhakti-based practice; then speech and intelligence become aligned, producing clearer understanding and wiser decisions.