Shloka 23

भाण्डीरवट-क्रीडा: प्रलम्बासुरवधः, मानुष्यलीला, एक-कारण-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

किम् अयं मानुषो भावो व्यक्तम् एवावलम्ब्यते सर्वात्मन् सर्वगुह्यानां गुह्यगुह्यात्मना त्वया

Transliteration

kim ayaṃ mānuṣo bhāvo vyaktam evāvalambyate sarvātman sarvaguhyānāṃ guhyaguhyātmanā tvayā

Translation

How can this be merely a human condition—how could You be dependent only upon what is manifest? O Soul of all, You who are the most hidden of all mysteries, You abide as the innermost secret within the secret itself.

Word by Word

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Prashna (Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular; प्रश्नार्थक

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मानुषः: human
• मानुषः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; विशेषण (qualifying भावः)

• भावः: state; disposition
• भावः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• व्यक्तम्: the manifest (form)
• व्यक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √व्यञ्ज्/व्यक्त 'manifest')
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (as object of verb)

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• अवलम्ब्यते: is resorted to; is relied upon
• अवलम्ब्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवलम्ब् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Present Indicative, 3rd person, Singular; भावे/कर्मणि-प्रयोग (is resorted to/is relied upon)

• सर्वात्मन्: O all-self; O soul of all
• सर्वात्मन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सर्वगुह्यानाम्: of all secrets
• सर्वगुह्यानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन — Neuter, Genitive, Plural; 'of all secrets'

• गुह्य-गुह्य-आत्मना: by you, the innermost secret
• गुह्य-गुह्य-आत्मना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; 'by you whose nature is the secret of secrets' (instrumental of agent/means)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3), एकवचन — Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

A devotee addressing Lord Vishnu/Krishna within the narrative dialogue (Parasara’s narration to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To manifest in human-like līlā while remaining the inner Self of all, thereby drawing beings into devotion and protection.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Revelation of the Lord’s hidden divinity behind apparent humanity, stabilizing faith amid paradox.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Though appearing human, Bhagavān is Sarvātmā—the indwelling controller—most hidden even within what is hidden, not limited by the manifest.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Do not judge the sacred by outward appearance; cultivate inward discernment (viveka) and reverent contemplation of the Divine within all beings.

Vishishtadvaita: Antaryāmitva: the Lord as the inner ruler residing within all selves and all mysteries, while still personally manifest (saulabhya) in avatāra.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Krishna

FAQs

What is the significance of the Lord being called “Sarvātman” in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse affirms Vishnu/Krishna as the indwelling Self of all beings, so His ‘human’ appearance does not reduce His supreme, all-pervading status.

How does Parasara’s narration frame the idea of God being both manifest and hidden?

In the Parasara–Maitreya teaching frame, such lines emphasize that divine incarnation is a chosen revelation: the Lord can be seen in form (vyakta) while remaining the deepest, transcendent mystery (guhyaguhya).

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu is presented as supreme reality who can enter history as Krishna without becoming conditioned—supporting Vaishnava views of the Lord’s immanence and transcendence together.