Shloka 16
Cosmic Appointments, Viṣṇu’s Vibhūtis, Fourfold Operation, and the Symbolism of Ornaments and Weapons
ये तु देवाधिपतयो ये च दैत्याधिपास् तथा दानवानां च ये नाथा ये नाथाः पिशिताशिनाम्
ye tu devādhipatayo ye ca daityādhipās tathā dānavānāṃ ca ye nāthā ye nāthāḥ piśitāśinām
And those who are lords among the gods; likewise the chiefs among the Daityas; the rulers of the Dānavas; and even the leaders of flesh-eating beings—whoever they may be—
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: The scope of Viṣṇu’s sovereignty across devas, asuras, and other classes of beings.
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Even the highest leaders among mutually opposed cosmic classes (devas, daityas, dānavas, rākṣasa-like beings) stand within a single overarching divine sovereignty.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Reduce sectarian antagonism by recognizing a higher unity governing diverse temperaments; act ethically even amid rivalry.
Vishishtadvaita: Unity-in-diversity: real plurality of beings and offices is coordinated by the one Lord as inner ruler, not erased but ordered.
Vishnu Form: Hari
Antaryamin: Yes
FAQs
It emphasizes that every realm has its own rulers, yet all such authorities remain within a single cosmic order ultimately subordinate to the Supreme Lord.
By naming the chiefs of opposing and diverse races (celestial and demonic), he portrays an all-encompassing hierarchy in which power exists at many levels but is not absolute in itself.
The verse sets up the idea that even the highest “lords” among gods and demons are not final; Vishnu alone stands as the ultimate ground of sovereignty and cosmic governance.