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Shloka 11

Parīkṣit’s Comprehensive Inquiries and the Bhāgavata as Śabda-avatāra

पुरुषावयवैर्लोका: सपाला: पूर्वकल्पिता: । लोकैरमुष्यावयवा: सपालैरिति शुश्रुम ॥ ११ ॥

puruṣāvayavair lokāḥ sapālāḥ pūrva-kalpitāḥ lokair amuṣyāvayavāḥ sa-pālair iti śuśruma

ഹേ പണ്ഡിത ബ്രാഹ്മണാ! മുമ്പ് സർവ്വ ലോകങ്ങളും തത്തത് അധിപന്മാരോടുകൂടെ വിരാട്-പുരുഷന്റെ മഹാദേഹത്തിലെ വിവിധ അവയവങ്ങളിൽ സ്ഥിതമാണെന്ന് വിശദീകരിച്ചിരുന്നു. ലോകങ്ങൾ ആ ദേഹത്തിലാണെന്നു ഞാനും കേട്ടിട്ടുണ്ട്; എന്നാൽ അവയുടെ യഥാർത്ഥ സ്ഥാനം എന്ത്? ദയവായി വിശദമാക്കുക।

पुरुष-अवयवैःby the limbs of the Puruṣa
पुरुष-अवयवैः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + अवयव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुरुषस्य अवयवाः)
लोकाःthe worlds
लोकाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootलोक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
स-पालाःwith their guardians
स-पालाः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः (सह + पाल) = ‘पालैः सह’ → ‘with guardians’
पूर्व-कल्पिताःpreviously arranged/created
पूर्व-कल्पिताः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्पित (कृदन्त, क्त) < √कॢप् (धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः (past passive participle)
लोकैःby the worlds
लोकैः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootलोक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन
अमुष्य-अवयवाः(are) the limbs of that (Puruṣa)
अमुष्य-अवयवाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअमुष्यद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अवयव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अमुष्य = ‘of that (Puruṣa)’ + अवयवाः)
स-पालैःtogether with guardians
स-पालैः:
Sahakari (सहकारी)
TypeAdjective
Rootपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः (सह + पाल)
इतिthus
इति:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्ति-निपातः (quotative particle)
शुश्रुमwe have heard
शुश्रुम:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√श्रु (धातु)
Formलिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदम्
V
Virāṭ-Puruṣa

FAQs

This verse states that the planetary systems along with their presiding rulers are envisioned as limbs of the Virāṭ-Puruṣa, and that one can also understand His limbs by studying those worlds and their rulers.

In the context of teaching Parīkṣit Mahārāja meditation on the Lord’s universal form, Śukadeva explains a devotional cosmology where creation is seen as integrated within the Lord’s body, helping the mind fix on Him.

It cultivates reverence and responsibility: one learns to see all realms of life as connected to the Divine, reducing exploitation and increasing mindful, devotional living.