Shloka 142
दुर्वासाशापः, क्षीरसागरमन्थनम्, श्रीः (लक्ष्मी) उद्भवः तथा श्रीस्तुतिः
देवत्वे देवदेहेयं मनुष्यत्वे च मानुषी विष्णोर् देहानुरूपां वै करोत्य् एषात्मनस् तनुम्
devatve devadeheyaṃ manuṣyatve ca mānuṣī viṣṇor dehānurūpāṃ vai karoty eṣātmanas tanum
When divinity is to be shown, this becomes a deva-like body; when humanity is to be shown, it becomes a human one. Thus does Viṣṇu, according to the needed mode of embodiment, fashion for Himself a form suited to that very state.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How the Lord’s embodiment varies appropriately across divine and human modes
Teaching: Philosophical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: The Lord assumes forms suited to the intended mode—divine or human—without compromising His sovereignty, by self-willed manifestation.
Vedantic Theme: Brahman
Application: Hold a disciplined view of the divine: honor the historic human-like avatāra while recognizing the transcendent Lord who freely adopts that form.
Vishishtadvaita: Self-manifested embodiment (arcā/avatāra logic) supports a personal Brahman who is transcendent yet truly present in accessible forms.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: shanta
FAQs
This verse states that Vishnu freely assumes a form suited to the realm—divine among gods, human among humans—showing avatāra as a deliberate, sovereign manifestation rather than a forced embodiment.
Parāśara frames embodiment as something Vishnu ‘fashions for Himself’ in accordance with the required mode of existence, preserving the idea that the Lord remains supreme while appearing in appropriate forms.
Vishnu is presented as the Supreme Reality who governs and chooses His manifestations, reinforcing a Vaishnava view where divine forms are purposeful (līlā) and uphold cosmic order.