Shloka 140
इह भूत्वा शिशु: साक्षात् कि भवानवतिष्ठते । पीत्वा जगदिदं सर्वमेतदाख्यातुमहसि,“आप इस सम्पूर्ण जगत्को पी करके यहाँ साक्षात् बालकवेषमें क्यों विराजमान हैं? यह सब बतानेकी कृपा करें
iha bhūtvā śiśuḥ sākṣāt kiṁ bhavān avatiṣṭhate | pītvā jagad idaṁ sarvam etad ākhyātum arhasi ||
Having become manifest here as a child in visible form, why do you remain so? After drinking up this entire universe, you ought to explain this—pray tell how this is so.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a classic epic motif: the finite eye beholds an impossible cosmic act (the universe swallowed) and responds with reverent inquiry. Ethically, it models humility before the mysterious and the duty to seek clarification from a worthy source rather than speculate.
A speaker (introduced as Vaiśampāyana) reports a question addressed to a being appearing as a child: after witnessing that this being has ‘drunk’ the entire universe, the questioner asks why the being remains here in child-form and requests an explanation of the marvel.