Shloka 44
देवकी-विवाहः, आकाशवाणी, भूरभारावतरण-याचना, क्षीराब्धि-स्तुति, केशावतार-नियोजनम्
एकश् चतुर्धा भगवान् हुताशो वर्चोविभूतिं जगतो ददाति त्वं विश्वतश् चक्षुर् अनन्तमूर्ते त्रेधा पदं त्वं निदधे विधातः
ekaś caturdhā bhagavān hutāśo varcovibhūtiṃ jagato dadāti tvaṃ viśvataś cakṣur anantamūrte tredhā padaṃ tvaṃ nidadhe vidhātaḥ
Though One, the Blessed Lord—manifest as the sacred Fire—becomes fourfold and bestows upon the world its radiance, vitality, and splendor. You are the all-encompassing Eye of the universe, O Infinite-Formed One; and as the Ordainer of all, You set Your station in threefold measure, establishing the very order by which the cosmos is sustained.
Sage Parāśara (addressing Lord Viṣṇu in an opening praise within the Parāśara–Maitreya dialogue frame)
Creation Stage: Secondary
Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas
Concept: The one Lord manifests as sacred Fire in fourfold function to sustain worldly vitality and splendor, and establishes a threefold cosmic station/order as the universe’s all-seeing ordainer.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Integrate ritual life (agni/offerings, discipline) with contemplation of the Lord as the inner regulator of cosmic order and moral order.
Vishishtadvaita: Links Vedic yajña-symbolism (Agni) to Bhagavān as the single inner agent who distributes vibhūti—supporting unity of ritual and personal theism in Vishishtadvaita.
Vishnu Form: Narayana
Bhakti Type: Shanta
Antaryamin: Yes
Jagat Karana: Yes
FAQs
The verse presents Agni as a single divine principle appearing in four modes to distribute the world’s radiance and sustaining energy—implying that cosmic functions operate through Vishnu’s ordered manifestations.
By calling Vishnu the all-pervading Eye and the Ordainer who establishes a threefold station, Parāśara frames creation as structured governance: the universe is seen, measured, and maintained by Vishnu’s supreme will.
Vishnu is portrayed as the Supreme Reality who is both immanent (as the operative powers like Agni) and transcendent (infinite-formed), establishing cosmic order through sovereign arrangement rather than mere material causation.