Shloka 74
आत्यन्तिक-लयहेतुः: तापत्रय-विवेचनम् तथा ‘भगवान्/वासुदेव’ शब्दार्थः
Threefold Suffering and the Path to Final Liberation; Meaning of Bhagavān and Vāsudeva
ऐश्वर्यस्य समग्रस्य वीर्यस्य यशसः श्रियः ज्ञानवैराग्ययोश् चैव षण्णां भग इतीरणा
aiśvaryasya samagrasya vīryasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ jñānavairāgyayoś caiva ṣaṇṇāṃ bhaga itīraṇā
The term “bhaga” is declared to denote six: perfect sovereignty, heroic potency, renown, auspicious splendor, true knowledge, and dispassion. He in whom these are fully present is spoken of as Bhagavān.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Defining ‘bhaga’ as the six-fold set of divine excellences that constitute Bhagavān-hood.
Teaching: Philosophical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Bhagavān is defined by the complete presence of six excellences: sovereignty, potency, fame, śrī (splendor), knowledge, and dispassion.
Vedantic Theme: Moksha
Application: In worship, remember these six qualities to deepen reverence and to align one’s life toward knowledge and vairāgya under divine sovereignty.
Vishishtadvaita: Centers liberation-oriented theology on a Brahman possessing infinite auspicious attributes (not quality-less), a hallmark of Viśiṣṭādvaita.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
Lakshmi Presence: Sri
FAQs
This verse defines “bhaga” as six perfections—sovereignty, power, fame, splendor, knowledge, and detachment—establishing Bhagavān (Vishnu) as the Supreme Being by the fullness of these attributes.
Parāśara explains Bhagavān through a precise theological definition: the one who possesses the complete set of six divine excellences (bhaga) is rightly called Bhagavān.
Vishnu is presented as the Supreme Reality not as an abstract principle alone, but as the personal Lord whose absolute sovereignty, omniscience, and perfect detachment are intrinsic and complete.