Shloka 21
Śrī-nivāsa: Traits and Conditions for the Abode of Prosperity (श्री-निवासः)
मैं मूर्तिमती एवं अनन्यचित्त होकर तो भगवान् नारायणमें ही सम्पूर्ण भावसे निवास करती हूँ; क्योंकि उनमें महान् धर्म संनिहित है। उनका ब्राह्मणोंके प्रति प्रेम है और उनमें स्वयं सर्वप्रिय होनेका गुण भी है ।।
nāhaṃ śarīreṇa vasāmi devi naivaṃ mayā śakyam ihābhidhātum | bhāvena yasmin nivāsāmi puṃsi sa vardhate dharmayaśo'rthakāmaiḥ ||
Wahai Dewi, aku tidak berdiam melalui kehadiran jasmani selain pada Nārāyaṇa; dan aku pun tak dapat mengatakan bahwa di mana-mana aku hadir dalam rupa yang sama terlihat. Aku bersemayam melalui bhāva—melalui niat batin yang berbakti—dalam diri lelaki tempatku tinggal; dan ia bertumbuh mantap dalam dharma dan kemasyhuran, serta dianugerahi kemakmuran dan kenikmatan hidup yang semestinya.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Divine presence is not merely physical or universally manifest in one fixed form; it is realized through bhava—inner devotion and intent. Where such devotion is present, the person’s life tends to flourish in dharma (righteous conduct), yashas (honor), artha (prosperity), and kama (legitimate enjoyment).
Bhishma addresses a goddess and clarifies how the divine ‘dwells’ in people: not as a constant bodily manifestation everywhere, but as an inward presence established through a person’s devotional attitude. He links that inner indwelling to the person’s ethical and worldly uplift.