Shloka 61
Adhyāya 42 — Mahābhūta–Indriya–Adhyātma-Vyavasthā
Brahmā’s Instruction on Elements and Faculties
ध्रुवं पश्यति रूपाणि दीपादू् दीपशतं यथा । जैसे एक दीपसे सैकड़ों दीप जला लिये जाते हैं, उसी प्रकार एक ही परमात्मा यत्र-तत्र अनेक रूपोंमें उपलब्ध होता है। ऐसा निश्चय करके ज्ञानी पुरुष निःसन्देह सब रूपोंको एकसे ही उत्पन्न देखता है || ६० ई ।।
dhruvaṁ paśyati rūpāṇi dīpād dīpaśataṁ yathā | sa vai viṣṇuś ca mitraś ca varuṇo 'gnīḥ prajāpatiḥ | dhātā vidhātā prabhuḥ sarvavyāpī sarvabhūtahṛdayaś ca mahātmā-rūpeṇa prakāśate ||
Vāyu said: “The wise person sees with certainty that forms arise from the One—just as a hundred lamps may be lit from a single lamp. Holding this conviction, he recognizes all diverse appearances as manifestations of the same source. Indeed, that Supreme Self shines as Viṣṇu, as Mitra, as Varuṇa, as Agni, and as Prajāpati—also as Dhātṛ and Vidhātṛ, as the Lord and the all-pervading presence, as the heart within all beings, and as the great Self.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
All deities and all forms are manifestations of one Supreme Reality. Like many lamps lit from one flame, the many names and appearances do not imply many ultimate sources; the wise see one indwelling Self in all beings, which supports an ethic of reverence, non-sectarianism, and inner steadiness.
Vāyudeva is speaking and instructing the listener in a metaphysical vision: he uses the lamp analogy to explain how the one Paramātman appears as many forms and is praised under many divine names (Viṣṇu, Mitra, Varuṇa, Agni, Prajāpati, etc.), emphasizing the single all-pervading presence within all hearts.