Shloka 103

दुर्वासाशापः, क्षीरसागरमन्थनम्, श्रीः (लक्ष्मी) उद्भवः तथा श्रीस्तुतिः

Devanagari script

दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरा स्नाता भूषणभूषिता पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां ययौ वक्षःस्थलं हरेः

Transliteration

divyamālyāmbaradharā snātā bhūṣaṇabhūṣitā paśyatāṃ sarvadevānāṃ yayau vakṣaḥsthalaṃ hareḥ

Translation

Wearing celestial garlands and garments, freshly bathed and adorned with radiant ornaments, she—before the gaze of all the gods—went and took her place upon the chest of Hari (Viṣṇu).

Word by Word

• दिव्य: divine
• दिव्य: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद-विशेषणम्

• माल्या: garland
• माल्या: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदम्

• अम्बर: garment
• अम्बर: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदम्

• धराः: wearing
• धराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (समासविग्रहः: दिव्य-माल्य-अम्बर-धरा)

• स्नाता: bathed
• स्नाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भूषणभूषिता: adorned with ornaments
• भूषणभूषिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूषण + भूषित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (भूषणैः भूषिता)

• पश्यताम्: of (those) watching
• पश्यताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्यत् (प्रातिपदिक; √दृश्-धातोः शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्तः (‘of those who are seeing’)

• सर्वदेवानाम्: of all the gods
• सर्वदेवानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वक्षःस्थलम्: the chest-region
• वक्षःस्थलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्षस् + स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (वक्षसः स्थलम्)

• हरेः: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Śrī’s choosing of Hari and her abiding on his chest (Śrīvatsa/Śrī-nivāsa motif)

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śrī’s abiding on Hari’s chest signifies the inseparability of divine sovereignty and grace from the Supreme Lord who is the cause and refuge of all.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: In prayer, approach Hari together with Śrī—seeking grace, protection, and steadiness of mind rather than merely worldly gain.

Vishishtadvaita: Śrī is eternally conjoined with Nārāyaṇa, functioning as compassionate mediatrix; the Supreme is personal, gracious, and relational.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari)
• Lakshmi (Sri)
• Devas (gods)

FAQs

What is the significance of Lakshmi going to Vishnu’s chest in the Vishnu Purana?

It signifies Sri’s inseparable union with Hari—Vishnu is affirmed as the supreme refuge and sovereign center of divine order, witnessed by all the gods.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine sovereignty in this episode?

By narrating Sri’s deliberate choice—made openly before the devas—Parāśara frames Vishnu’s supremacy not as mere power, but as the rightful locus of auspiciousness, purity, and cosmic authority.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is presented as the Supreme Reality (Hari) who naturally bears Sri; her resting on his chest conveys his unique status as sustainer and ultimate shelter in Vaishnava theology.