Shloka 39

कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

मनुष्यलीलां भगवन् भजता भवता सुराः विडम्बयन्तस् त्वल्लीलां सर्व एव सदासते

Transliteration

manuṣyalīlāṃ bhagavan bhajatā bhavatā surāḥ viḍambayantas tvallīlāṃ sarva eva sadāsate

Translation

O Bhagavān, when You choose to enact a human līlā, all the gods, delighting in Your divine sport, ever remain as if imitating and echoing Your līlā.

Word by Word

• मनुष्य-लीलाम्: human play/act
• मनुष्य-लीलाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य + लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘मनुष्याणां लीला’/‘मनुष्यवत् लीला’)

• भगवन्: O Lord
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• भजता: by (you) engaging in
• भजता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु) → भजत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ‘by you who are performing/engaging in’

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/भवन्-शब्द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; आदरार्थ-प्रयोग (honorific ‘by you’)

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• विडम्बयन्तः: mocking/imitating
• विडम्बयन्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विडम्बय् (धातु) → विडम्बयत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; ‘mocking/imitating’

• त्वत्-लीलाम्: your play
• त्वत्-लीलाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘त्वत्’ = ‘तव’)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• सदा: always
• सदा: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• आसते: they remain/abide
• आसते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He veils His divinity to enact a human līlā that draws gods and humans into dharma and devotion.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Reaffirmation of divine sovereignty through līlā and the right orientation of devas toward Bhagavān

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s ‘human play’ is a conscious divine mode in which even the gods align themselves by following His līlā.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Approach sacred narratives not as mere history but as transformative līlā that invites imitation through virtues and devotion.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhagavān’s accessible, personal conduct in the world becomes a real means for finite beings to participate in divine order.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Krishna
• Devas (gods)

FAQs

What is the significance of manuṣya-līlā (human play) in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights that the Lord’s avatāra actions appear human for the world’s benefit, yet remain divine līlā—revealing His sovereignty while engaging intimately with creation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of the devas in the Lord’s līlā?

In this verse, the devas are portrayed as continually aligning with and even “imitating” the Lord’s play—indicating their subordinate participation in His cosmic purpose.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is affirmed as Bhagavān whose human-like conduct is voluntary and sovereign; even the gods revolve around His actions, underscoring His status as Supreme Reality.