Shloka 28

दधीचाश्रमगमनम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and Dadhīca’s Fearlessness

Kṣu’s Request

Devanagari script

ससर्ज भगवान् विष्णुः स्वदेहात्पुरुषोत्तमः । आत्मनस्सदृशान् दिव्यान् लक्षलक्षायुतान् गणान्

Transliteration

sasarja bhagavān viṣṇuḥ svadehātpuruṣottamaḥ | ātmanassadṛśān divyān lakṣalakṣāyutān gaṇān

Translation

Then Bhagavān Viṣṇu, the Supreme Person (Puruṣottama), emanated from his own body vast hosts of divine attendants—multitudes upon multitudes—each resembling him in form and splendor.

Word by Word

• ससर्ज: created/emitted
• ससर्ज: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st case/nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वदेहात्: from (his) own body
• स्वदेहात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case/ablative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य देहः)

• पुरुषोत्तमः: the Supreme Person
• पुरुषोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (उत्तमः पुरुषः)

• आत्मनः: of himself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन

• सदृशान्: similar (to)
• सदृशान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), बहुवचन (plural)

• दिव्यान्: divine
• दिव्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• लक्षलक्षायुतान्: numbering lakhs and lakhs and tens of thousands
• लक्षलक्षायुतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्ष + लक्ष + अयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः द्विगु (संख्यापूर्वक-समासः: लक्ष-लक्ष-अयुत-परिमाणाः)

• गणान्: hosts/troops
• गणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights the vastness of divine manifestation: even a great deity like Viṣṇu can emanate innumerable beings by will. In a Śaiva Siddhānta reading, such creative power operates within the ordered cosmos ultimately governed by Pati (Śiva), reminding the seeker that all splendor and agency arise within the Supreme Lord’s cosmic law.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The verse emphasizes Saguna (manifest) divinity—forms, hosts, and cosmic functions. Linga worship in the Shiva Purana trains the mind to see all manifest powers as grounded in Śiva, the inner reality of all forms; thus even grand emanations are contemplated as resting in the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on the source behind multiplicity: perform japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while visualizing all beings and powers arising and dissolving in Śiva, cultivating detachment and devotion rather than fascination with mere cosmic display.