Shloka 56
कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्
क्व पन्नगो ऽल्पवीर्यो ऽयं क्व भवान् भुवनाश्रयः प्रीतिद्वेषौ समोत्कृष्टगोचरौ च यतो ऽव्यय
kva pannago 'lpavīryo 'yaṃ kva bhavān bhuvanāśrayaḥ prītidveṣau samotkṛṣṭagocarau ca yato 'vyaya
Where is this serpent of such little power, and where are You, the very support of the worlds? O Imperishable One, for You even affection and aversion—opposed experiences—move within an equal and exalted scope, never binding You, never diminishing You.
Likely a devotee/praise-speaker within Parasara’s narration (the verse is framed as a direct address to the Imperishable Lord as bhuvanāśraya).
Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: He reveals divine equanimity and imperishability while subduing Kāliya, showing that opposites do not bind the Lord.
Leela: Dharma-upadesa
Dharma Restored: Right understanding of the Lord’s transcendence over dualities (prīti-dveṣa) and His role as bhuvanāśraya.
Concept: The Imperishable Lord, support of the worlds, is untouched by the dualities of affection and aversion that bind finite beings.
Vedantic Theme: Moksha
Application: Cultivate steadiness amid praise and blame by anchoring the mind in the Lord who transcends all opposites.
Vishishtadvaita: Transcendence-with-immanence: though bhuvanāśraya and jagat-kāraṇa, the Lord remains avyakta/avyaya and unconditioned by worldly guṇas and dualities.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
Jagat Karana: Yes
FAQs
It asserts Vishnu as the ontological support of all worlds—creation depends on Him, while He remains independent and imperishable.
This verse portrays them as opposites that can exist within the Lord’s domain without affecting Him—He is avyaya and not conditioned by emotional dualities.
Avyaya emphasizes that Vishnu is unchanged by worldly contrasts and events; His sovereignty and perfection remain intact, a key Vaishnava teaching about the Supreme Reality.