Shloka 1
Viśvarūpa’s Death, Vṛtrāsura’s Manifestation, and the Devas’ Surrender to Nārāyaṇa
श्रीशुक उवाच तस्यासन् विश्वरूपस्य शिरांसि त्रीणि भारत । सोमपीथं सुरापीथमन्नादमिति शुश्रुम ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca tasyāsan viśvarūpasya śirāṁsi trīṇi bhārata soma-pīthaṁ surā-pītham annādam iti śuśruma
శ్రీశుకదేవ గోస్వామి పలికెను—ఓ భారత (పరీక్షిత), విశ్వరూపునికి మూడు తలలు ఉండేవి. శాస్త్రాధికారుల నుండి నేను వినినదేమనగా—ఒక తలతో సోమరసాన్ని త్రాగేవాడు, మరొక తలతో సురాను త్రాగేవాడు, మూడవ తలతో అన్నం భుజించేవాడు.
One cannot directly perceive the kingdom of heaven, its king and other inhabitants, or how they perform their various engagements, for no one can go to the heavenly planets. Although modern scientists have invented many powerful space vehicles, they cannot even go to the moon, not to speak of other planets. By direct experience one cannot learn anything beyond the range of human perception. One must hear from authorities. Therefore Śukadeva Gosvāmī, a great personality, says, “What I am describing to you, O King, is what I have heard from authoritative sources.” This is the Vedic system. The Vedic knowledge is called śruti because it must be received by being heard from authorities. It is beyond the realm of our false experimental knowledge.
FAQs
This verse states that Viśvarūpa had three heads—one drank soma, one drank surā (liquor), and one ate food—highlighting his extraordinary form as heard in the tradition.
Śukadeva addresses Parīkṣit by his dynastic epithet ‘Bhārata’ (descendant of Bharata), a common Bhagavatam style that situates the teaching within the sacred royal lineage.
It can remind a practitioner to observe the mind’s mixed impulses and align one’s habits with dharma and devotion, rather than being pulled by contradictory tastes.