Shloka 23
The Universal Form (Virāṭ-Puruṣa): The Lord’s Entry into the Elements, the Devas, and the Origin of Varṇāśrama
बुद्धिं चास्य विनिर्भिन्नां वागीशो धिष्ण्यमाविशत् । बोधेनांशेन बोद्धव्यम् प्रतिपत्तिर्यतो भवेत् ॥ २३ ॥
buddhiṁ cāsya vinirbhinnāṁ vāg-īśo dhiṣṇyam āviśat bodhenāṁśena boddhavyam pratipattir yato bhavet
Lorsque l’intelligence de la forme gigantesque se manifesta séparément, Brahmā, seigneur des Védas et de la parole, y entra avec une part de la puissance de compréhension; ainsi les êtres vivants font l’expérience de l’objet à connaître.
FAQs
This verse teaches that when intelligence becomes manifest, true comprehension (pratipatti) arises through a portion of awakened knowledge—showing that realization comes from illumined cognition, not mere information.
Vāgīśa is the presiding deity of speech. In the description of cosmic manifestation, deities enter their respective abodes (organs/fields) of the universal form to activate function—here, speech and the intelligible expression connected with buddhi.
Cultivate awakened knowledge through śravaṇa (hearing), manana (reflection), and bhakti-based practice; then speech and intelligence become aligned, producing clearer understanding and wiser decisions.