Shloka 3
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 69: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Reverential Address to Sañjaya on Vāsudeva
वसनात् सर्वभूतानां वसुत्वाद् देवयोनित: । वासुदेवस्ततो वेद्यो बृहत्त्वाद् विष्णुरुच्यते,भगवान् समस्त प्राणियोंके निवासस्थान हैं तथा वे सब भूतोंमें वास करते हैं, इसलिये “वसु' हैं एवं देवताओंकी उत्पत्तिके स्थान होनेसे और समस्त देवता उनमें वास करते हैं, इसलिये उन्हें 'देव” कहा जाता है। अतएव उनका नाम “वासुदेव” है, ऐसा जानना चाहिये। बृहत् अर्थात् व्यापक होनेके कारण वे ही “विष्णु' कहलाते हैं
sañjaya uvāca | vasanāt sarvabhūtānāṁ vasutvād devayonitaḥ | vāsudevas tato vedyo bṛhattvād viṣṇur ucyate ||
Sañjaya said: Because the Lord is the dwelling-place of all beings and also abides within all beings, He is known as “Vasu.” And because He is the source from which the gods arise—and because all the gods dwell in Him—He is called “Deva.” Therefore He is to be understood by the name “Vāsudeva.” And because He is vast and all-pervading, He is called “Viṣṇu.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse explains the theological rationale behind divine epithets: the Lord is called Vasu because all beings dwell in Him and He dwells in them; He is called Deva because He is the source and abode of the gods; thus He is known as Vāsudeva, and as Viṣṇu because of His vast, all-pervading nature.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war setting, Sañjaya describes and glorifies the supreme status of Kṛṣṇa/Vāsudeva by interpreting His names, emphasizing His cosmic indwelling and sovereignty—framing Him as the divine ground of beings and of the gods.