Shloka 42

बाणयुद्धम्, हरिहरसंवादः, ज्वरप्रकरणम्, अनिरुद्धमोचनम्

Bāṇa’s War, the Jvara Episode, Hari–Hara Dialogue, and Aniruddha’s Release

Devanagari script

देवतिर्यङ्मनुष्येषु शरीरग्रहणात्मिका लीलेयं सर्वभूतस्य तव चेष्टोपलक्षणा

Transliteration

devatiryaṅmanuṣyeṣu śarīragrahaṇātmikā līleyaṃ sarvabhūtasya tava ceṣṭopalakṣaṇā

Translation

In gods, in animals, and in human beings, this taking on of bodies is but Your līlā—an outward sign of the free, sovereign activity of You who are the indwelling Self of all beings.

Word by Word

• देव: among gods
• देव: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; ‘देवेषु’ अर्थे समासाङ्गत्वात् पदरूपेण

• तिर्यक्: among animals
• तिर्यक्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिर्यक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, बहुवचन; ‘तिर्यङ्षु’ अर्थे समासाङ्गत्वात्

• मनुष्येषु: among humans
• मनुष्येषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• शरीरग्रहणात्मिका: having the nature of assuming bodies
• शरीरग्रहणात्मिका: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरीर + ग्रहण + आत्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शरीरस्य ग्रहणं तदात्मिका)

• लीला: play (divine sport)
• लीला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वभूतस्य: of the Lord of all beings / of all beings
• सर्वभूतस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वाणि भूतानि यस्य/सर्वेषां भूतानां)

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चेष्टोपलक्षणा: indicated by (your) actions
• चेष्टोपलक्षणा: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चेष्टा + उपलक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चेष्टया उपलक्षणा)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The theological meaning of the Lord ‘taking bodies’ in various species and realms.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna’s embodied manifestations across deva, animal, and human forms are framed as līlā revealing His sovereign freedom and governance of all beings.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Metaphysical order: correct understanding that avatāra embodiment is voluntary and purposeful, not karmically compelled.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodiment in any realm is, for the Supreme, a voluntary līlā and a sign of His autonomous agency as the indwelling Self of all beings.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: See the divine presence within all life; practice humility and non-cruelty, and interpret life-events through the lens of the Lord’s governance rather than mere chance.

Vishishtadvaita: Strong antaryāmin doctrine: the Lord is the inner Self of all (sarvabhūta), yet freely manifests distinct bodies—immanence without loss of transcendence.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas
• Humans
• Animals (Tiryak)

FAQs

What is the significance of līlā (divine play) in this Vishnu Purana verse?

It frames embodiment and manifestation not as limitation for the Supreme, but as a deliberate, sovereign expression of Vishnu’s cosmic governance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain embodiment across different species and realms?

Parāśara presents gods, animals, and humans as domains where the Lord’s assumption of bodies functions as an indicator of His purposeful activity, not as compulsion.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is affirmed as the all-pervading Self of all beings, whose incarnational activity is a conscious sign of supreme lordship—supporting core Vaiṣṇava metaphysics.