Shloka 51
Kardama Muni’s Penance, Viṣṇu’s Darśana, and the Arrangement of Devahūti’s Marriage
योऽर्केन्द्वग्नीन्द्रवायूनां यमधर्मप्रचेतसाम् । रूपाणि स्थान आधत्से तस्मै शुक्लाय ते नम: ॥ ५१ ॥
yo ’rkendv-agnīndra-vāyūnāṁ yama-dharma-pracetasām rūpāṇi sthāna ādhatse tasmai śuklāya te namaḥ
అవసరమైనప్పుడు నీవు సూర్యుడు, చంద్రుడు, అగ్ని, ఇంద్రుడు, వాయువు, యముడు, ధర్ముడు, వరుణుడు మొదలైన వారి పాత్రలను స్వీకరిస్తావు; ఆ శుక్లస్వరూప విష్ణువైన నీకు నమస్కారం।
Since the sage Kardama was a brāhmaṇa and Svāyambhuva was a kṣatriya, the sage was not supposed to offer obeisances to the King because socially his position was greater than the King’s. But he offered his obeisances to Svāyambhuva Manu because as Manu, king and emperor, he was the representative of the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord is always worshipable, regardless of whether one is a brāhmaṇa, a kṣatriya or a śūdra. As the representative of the Supreme Lord, the King deserved respectful obeisances from everyone.
FAQs
This verse states that the Supreme Lord establishes the forms and abodes of the demigods (like Sūrya, Candra, Agni, Indra, Vāyu) and rulers like Yama, Dharma, and Varuṇa—showing their authority is derived, not independent.
Manu glorifies the Lord as the pure Supreme Controller who ordains cosmic order; calling Him ‘Śukla’ emphasizes His transcendental, uncontaminated nature beyond material modes.
Respect the devas as empowered servants, but place primary devotion and surrender in Viṣṇu, the ultimate source who assigns their roles and powers.