Shloka 4
The Universal Form (Virāṭ-Puruṣa): The Lord’s Entry into the Elements, the Devas, and the Origin of Varṇāśrama
प्रबुद्धकर्मा दैवेन त्रयोविंशतिको गण: । प्रेरितोऽजनयत्स्वाभिर्मात्राभिरधिपूरुषम् ॥ ४ ॥
prabuddha-karmā daivena trayoviṁśatiko gaṇaḥ prerito ’janayat svābhir mātrābhir adhipūruṣam
When the twenty-three principal elements were awakened into action by the will of the Supreme, they, through their respective measures, brought forth the Adhipuruṣa—the Lord’s cosmic form (virāṭ/viśvarūpa).
The virāṭ-rūpa or viśva-rūpa, the gigantic universal form of the Lord, which is very much appreciated by the impersonalist, is not an eternal form of the Lord. It is manifested by the supreme will of the Lord after the ingredients of material creation. Lord Kṛṣṇa exhibited this virāṭ or viśva-rūpa to Arjuna just to convince the impersonalists that He is the original Personality of Godhead. Kṛṣṇa exhibited the virāṭ-rūpa; it is not that Kṛṣṇa was exhibited by the virāṭ-rūpa. The virāṭ-rūpa is not, therefore, an eternal form of the Lord exhibited in the spiritual sky; it is a material manifestation of the Lord. The arcā-vigraha, or the worshipable Deity in the temple, is a similar manifestation of the Lord for the neophytes. But in spite of their material touch, such forms of the Lord as the virāṭ and arcā are all nondifferent from His eternal form as Lord Kṛṣṇa.
FAQs
This verse states that the group of twenty-three principles, activated by divine arrangement, becomes operative and generates the presiding universal person (Virāṭ-Puruṣa) through the subtle elements (tan-mātras).
Adhipuruṣa refers to the Supreme Lord as the presiding universal form—the cosmic person who governs and pervades the manifested universe as its organizing principle.
The verse encourages seeing order and purpose behind nature’s workings—recognizing a higher governance—cultivating humility, gratitude, and devotional orientation rather than viewing existence as mere accident.