Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 19
Puruṣa-sūkta Logic of the Virāṭ: Cosmic Anatomy, Sacrifice, and the Lord’s Transcendence
पादेषु सर्वभूतानि पुंस: स्थितिपदो विदु: । अमृतं क्षेममभयं त्रिमूर्ध्नोऽधायि मूर्धसु ॥ १९ ॥
pādeṣu sarva-bhūtāni puṁsaḥ sthiti-pado viduḥ amṛtaṁ kṣemam abhayaṁ tri-mūrdhno ’dhāyi mūrdhasu
Les sages savent que tous les êtres demeurent aux pieds de Bhagavān Puruṣa : c’est le support du quart de Son énergie. L’immortalité, la sûreté et l’absence de peur—dans le dhāma suprême, sans l’angoisse de la vieillesse et de la maladie—se trouvent au-delà des trois mondes supérieurs et au-delà des enveloppes matérielles.
Out of the total manifestations of the sandhinī energy of the Lord, one fourth is displayed in the material world, and three fourths are displayed in the spiritual world. The Lord’s energy is divided into three component parts, namely sandhinī, saṁvit and hlādinī; in other words, He is the full manifestation of existence, knowledge and bliss. In the material world such a sense of existence, knowledge and pleasure is meagerly exhibited, and all living entities, who are minute parts and parcels of the Lord, are eligible to relish such consciousness of existence, knowledge and bliss very minutely in the liberated stage, whereas in the conditioned stage of material existence they can hardly appreciate what is the factual, existential, cognizable and pure happiness of life. The liberated souls, who exist in far greater numerical strength than those souls in the material world, can factually experience the potency of the above-mentioned sandhinī, saṁvit and hlādinī energies of the Lord in the matter of deathlessness, fearlessness and freedom from old age and disease.
FAQs
This verse states that all beings are situated at the Lord’s feet, which are the very foundation of their existence—implying that true stability comes from surrender and refuge in Him.
In Canto 2, Śukadeva guides Parīkṣit toward fixed meditation on the Supreme by mapping creation onto the Lord’s form, helping the listener anchor the mind in the Divine rather than in temporary worldly identities.
By remembering that one’s real support is the Supreme Lord (not uncertain externals), a devotee practices steadiness in duty, reduces anxiety, and cultivates inner courage through prayer, remembrance, and surrender.