Shloka 52
Tapovana-praveśaḥ — The King’s Entry into the Sacred Grove and Vision of the Āśrama
य:ः स चक्रगदापाणि: पीतवासा: शितिप्रभ: । पद्मनाभ: सुरारिघ्न: पृथुचार्वज्चितेक्षण:,जो अपने हाथोंमें चक्र और गदा धारण करते हैं, पीताम्बर पहनते हैं, जिनके अंगोंकी कान्ति श्याम रंगकी है, जिनकी नाभिसे कमलका प्रादुर्भाव हुआ है, जो देव-शत्रुओंके नाशक तथा विशाल और मनोहर नेत्रोंसे युक्त हैं
yaḥ sa cakragadāpāṇiḥ pītavāsāḥ śitiprabhāḥ | padmanābhaḥ surārighnaḥ pṛthucārvaciteṣaṇaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “He is the one who bears the discus and the mace in his hands, who is clad in yellow garments, whose radiance is dark-hued and lustrous; whose navel is the source of the lotus; who destroys the foes of the gods; and who possesses broad, beautiful, attentive eyes.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a devotional-ethical ideal: the divine protector of cosmic order (dharma) is characterized not only by power (discus and mace) but also by auspicious marks (lotus-navel) and benevolent, attentive vision—suggesting that righteous power is guided by awareness and the safeguarding of the gods’ cause.
Vaiśaṃpāyana is describing Viṣṇu through a string of epithets and visual attributes—his weapons, clothing, radiance, and distinguishing marks—framing him as the slayer of the gods’ enemies and an auspicious, protective presence within the Adi Parva’s unfolding account.