Srimad Bhagavata Skanda 2 – The Hymn of Virat Purusha (Part 2 of 3)
"The Lord Sriman Narayana is the very essence of divine virtues, self-sustained, radiant with light, overflowing with boundless knowledge and bliss. He is the ‘Creator of The Universe,’ which encompasses countless forms of Himself, both the living beings and the non-living things. He sustains, transforms, and governs it all — bestowing both ignorance and wisdom, binding beings to the cycle of birth and death, and offering liberation to those who seek moksha. Thus, He is the Param, the Supreme.
In the dawn of creation, He manifested the first being, the four-faced Brahma, and gifted him the knowledge required to bring the cosmos into being. Through His blessings, wisdom unfolds. Though He seeks no gain for Himself, He creates and upholds the cosmos for the welfare of all living beings, endowed with all the wisdom necessary for such a grand design. For He is neither a juggler, nor a deceiver, crafting illusions in this world. Untainted by any flaw, He is the Satyam — the absolute truth.
With reverence, let us meditate upon Lord Sriman Narayana, the embodiment of Satyam and Param."
"The Srimad Bhagavata encompasses the entirety of Dharma, safeguarding the soul from falling by purifying it, and guiding the individual soul towards the divine path leading to the Lord. This sacred path calls for unwavering devotion — a life dedicated to honoring, worshipping, admiring, and praising the Lord, free from jealousy, expectation, or deceit. As one treads upon this path, all obstacles dissolve, prosperity is bestowed, and the heart becomes imbued with virtue, turning one into a Sajjana, a virtuous soul. Above all, it fortifies bhakti, deepening one’s devotion.
Thus, the Srimad Bhagavata, composed by the Lord in the form of sage Veda Vyasa shines as a beacon of truth, revealing Himself as Supreme Soul eternally resides in the heart of every living being."
"Salutations to Lord Sriman Narayana, the eternal support of all, including the divine Goddess Lakshmi, and the very essence of the Srimad Bhagavata. Salutations to Lord Veda Vyasa, the revered composer of this sacred scripture. Salutations to Devi, the Goddess of Fortune, who perpetually serves the Lord and bestows the blessings of abundance upon all Bhagavatas, enriching them with the divine knowledge of Srimad Bhagavata — a wealth that encompasses Jnana, Bhakti, and Vairagya.
Salutations to the Gods Brahma and Vayu, the noblest of beings. Salutations to Sarasvati, the Goddess of Knowledge and Devotion, who inspires both wisdom and bhakti. Salutations to the divine Garuda, Sesha and Shiva, the greatest among the Vaishnavas.
Salutations to the Srimad Bhagavata, the sacred text that brings forth eternal victory and spiritual triumph."
The brightness of the Sun, Fire, Moon, Planets, Stars, Gems, Precious stones and Lightening put together is just like a firefly near the astonishing brilliance emanating from your lotus of Heart wherein the five forms of Lord Sri Rama, Sri Narasimha, Sri Veda Vyasa, Sri Krishna and Sriman Narayana are present in a significant way bestowing you the Brahmavarchas or the Sacred Knowledge.
Gentle & Holy Sage, Sri Raghavendra, I worship you by surrendering myself.
As Sri Shukacharya’s sacred vision of the Virat Purusha continued, the atmosphere deepened in stillness. King Parikshit listened with awe, his heart immersed in the vast cosmic form of the Lord revealed through each verse. What began as a meditation on the Lord’s universal body had now expanded into a divine hymn—a stotra of wonder and surrender. Having journeyed from the feet of the Lord to His shoulders and senses, the sacred narration now moved upward, unveiling deeper layers of meaning in each limb, each element, and each cosmic expression. In this second part of the Virat Purusha Stotra, the vision intensifies—revealing how even the subtlest forces of nature, the highest wisdom, the flow of time, and the stirrings of mind all dwell within the Supreme — yet He grants each soul the freedom to surrender, to awaken, and to return.
द्यौरक्षिणी चक्षुरभूत्पतङ्गः
पक्ष्माणि विष्णोरहनी उभे च ।
तद्भ्रूविजृम्भः परमेष्ठिधिष्ण्य-
मापोऽस्य तालू रस एव जिह्वा ॥ ३०॥
"Behold the Virat Purusha, Mahavishnu, whose very form holds the vast expanse of creation. His divine eyes are the Dyuloka—the celestial heavens—where the gods reside in eternal splendor. Within His sacred gaze shines the essence of all vision, and in the depths of His luminous eyeballs, the Sun Himself manifests—the source of light, the seer of all things, the giver of life and warmth.
His two eyelids bring forth the cycle of time—the opening of His eyes heralds the day, and their gentle closing ushers in the night. Thus, the very glance sets the rhythm of existence, where time flows in perfect harmony under His divine will.
Above His eyes, from His noble brow, emerges Brahma Loka — the supreme realm of knowledge, where God Brahmā, the creator, dwells in deep meditation, chanting the four Vedas from his four faces in the four directions. From this sacred seat, he initiates the cycles of creation and inspires Brahmavarchas — the spiritual radiance born of sacred knowledge — in the hearts of the virtuous.
From His powerful jaws, where strength and grace reside, and from His celestial palate, the very essence of water manifested — the source of life, the flowing nectar that sustains all creation. And from His sacred tongue arose Rasa — the essence, the taste, the very juice of existence, which infuses all things with flavor and vitality. Within this divine Rasa dwell the six sacred tastes — sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent — each a reflection of the cosmic moods, nourishing the senses and shaping the soul’s journey through the world."
छन्दांस्यनन्तस्य शिरो गृणन्ति
दंष्ट्रा यमः स्नेहकला द्विजानि ।
हासो जनोन्मादकरी च माया
दुरन्तसर्गो यदपाङ्गमोक्षः ॥ ३१॥
“Beneath the crown of the cosmic head of the Supreme Virāt Puruṣa, the boundless and ever-compassionate Ananta is the Brahmarandhra — the subtle passage through which divine consciousness flows. Just as in a newborn, where this tender spot remains open before the bones take form, so too in the great Virāt Puruṣa does this sacred passage exist. Here manifests the eternal vibrations of the Vedic hymns — not composed, but breathed forth by the Supreme, as axioms of truth. It is from this divine current that God Brahmā, seated in Brahma Loka, receives the four Vedas — and by the Lord’s grace, chants them from his four faces in the four directions, initiating creation and bestowing sacred knowledge upon the virtuous.
From His mighty molar teeth arose Yama, the god of death—the fierce enforcer of righteousness, the wielder of justice, and the punisher of sinners. Just as teeth crush and break what is consumed, so too does Yama break the illusions of life and bring forth the reckoning of karma.
Yet, O King, not all His teeth bear the weight of judgment. The other teeth, softer in nature, manifested as love and affection, the forces that bind souls in companionship and devotion. These very bonds, when purified by wisdom, lead to Mukti—liberation from the endless cycle of birth and death. Thus, within the Virat Purusha’s smile exists both justice and mercy, both the stern hand of fate and the tender embrace of salvation.
Also, that His gentle smile itself became Maya—the grand illusion that veils reality and ensnares the souls in the dance of desire and attachment. Like the sweet laughter of a dream, it casts a spell upon the world, making the unreal seem real and the fleeting appear eternal.
And from the mere edge of His eye—a mere fleeting glance—came forth creation in all its vastness! With but a glimpse, the infinite expanse of the cosmos unfolded, the stars took their place, the worlds were formed, and life began its sacred journey."
व्रीडोत्तरोष्ठोऽधर एव लोभो
धर्मः स्तनोऽधर्मपथोऽस्य पृष्ठम् ।
कस्तस्य मेढ्रं वृषणौ च मित्रौ
कुक्षिः समुद्रा गिरयोऽस्थिसङ्घाः ॥ ३२॥
"From the upper lip of Virat Purusha arose Lajja—shame, the force that humbles and restrains beings from wrongdoing, yet also brings the burden of humiliation upon those who falter. And from His lower lip manifested Lobha—miserliness, the clinging attachment that binds souls in greed, causing them to withhold rather than share, to grasp rather than give.
From the grandeur of His chest emerged Dharma—the eternal law, the pillar of righteousness, guiding all beings toward truth, virtue, and divine purpose. It is this sacred Dharma, supported by the gods, that upholds the universe, ensuring order where chaos would otherwise reign.
But from His broad back arose Adharma—unrighteousness, the shadow of deception and disorder, the path of those who turn away from virtue, seeking the transient pleasures of illusion. Adharma, supported by the forces of evil, undermines harmony and veils the soul in forgetfulness.
Just as the back is unseen while the chest stands forward in strength, so too does Dharma stand boldly before all, while Adharma lingers in silence, ready to misguide the inattentive.
For Dharma, supported by the gods, must be lived with awareness, upheld with vigilance, and remembered with reverence. And Adharma, supported by evil, though hidden, is never far—it waits in defiance, in neglect, thriving in the absence of smṛti (remembrance) and viveka (discernment).
Thus, the wise do not merely walk the path of Dharma; they guard it—like a flame in the wind— with the shield of inner awareness and the lamp of sacred knowledge. From His sacred generative power arose Prajapati—the cosmic progenitor, the creative impulse that manifests life across all realms. Though often identified with Brahma, the title encompasses the many divine agents of creation, from the first-born sages to the subtle forces that shape existence itself.
From His divine essence emerged Mitra and Varuna—the celestial deities of unity and cosmic law, manifested from His generative force, governing the sacred bonds of kinship and the vast waters that sustain life.
The endless oceans, deep and unfathomable, arose from His mighty stomach, holding the mysteries of creation, swallowing rivers, and birthing storms. And from His unyielding bones, the great hills and towering mountains took form, standing as the immovable sages of stone, gazing toward the heavens like silent sages in meditation."
नद्योऽस्य नाड्योऽथ तनूरुहाणि
महीरुहा विश्वतनोर्नृपेन्द्र ।
अनन्तवीर्यः श्वसितं मातरिश्वा
गतिर्वयः कर्म गुणप्रवाहः ॥ ३३॥
"O Rajendra! The Nadis, the subtle energy channels that course through His celestial body of Virat Purusha, manifest as the sacred rivers that nourish the lands, winding through valleys and plains, sustaining life in all its forms. Just as the Nadis carry vital energy within a living being, these rivers carry the essence of life across the vast expanse of creation.
The very Romas—the sacred hairs upon His divine form—have taken shape as the forests, the towering trees, and the lush greenery that adorn the earth. They stand as guardians of life, offering shade, shelter, and sustenance to all beings, whispering the secrets of existence in the rustling of their leaves.
From the breath of this infinite Lord emerged Vayu, the mighty god of wind, whose invisible force moves ceaselessly across the worlds. He is the breath of all creatures, the unseen hand that stirs the oceans, bends the trees, and fills the lungs of every living being with the gift of life. Without Him, nothing would stir, and all would fall into stillness.
His very movement is Kala, the unrelenting force of Time itself. With each step of His divine dance, moments unfold, ages pass, and destinies are woven into existence. Time flows only because He moves—past, present, and future arise and dissolve within the vast rhythm of His eternal motion.
And, O noble King, know this — His actions manifest as the three great Guṇas of Prakṛti, the subtle forces that govern all creation. At His divine feet resides Mahālakṣmī, the Supreme Goddess, who unfolds Herself into three radiant forms: Śrī, who bestows Sattva — the essence of purity and wisdom, illuminating the hearts of the righteous; Bhū, who channels Rajas — the fire of activity and movement, sustaining the worlds with vitality; and Durgā, who veils the cosmos in Tamas — the force of rest, concealment, and dissolution.
Yet, though these Guṇas arise through Her, and through Her from Him, the Supreme remains ever beyond — untouched, eternal, and serene — witnessing the dance of creation with boundless grace."
ईशस्य केशान् विदुरम्बुवाहान्
वासस्तु सन्ध्यां कुरुवर्य भूम्नः ।
अव्यक्तमाहुर्हृदयं मनश्च
सचन्द्रमाः सर्वविकारकोशः ॥ ३४॥
"O Parakshit!" Sri Shukacharya proclaimed, "Know that even the vast expanse of the sky finds its origin in the Supreme Being. The very hairs upon the head of the Virat Purusha have manifested as the floating clouds that drift across the heavens, bringing shade, rain, and the ever-changing beauty of the divine expanse.
The sacred transition between day and night, the golden hours of dawn and dusk, are but the garments of Ananta, the infinite Lord. Draped in the hues of morning’s first light and the tender glow of evening’s farewell, these celestial moments mark the rhythm of existence, veiling and unveiling the splendor of the cosmos.
The Mula Prakriti, the primordial essence from which all matter arises—the inert, unshaped foundation of creation itself—resides in His heart, the very core of His being. It is from this cosmic heart that the material world is woven, pulsing with the energy of existence, yet untouched by the turmoil of desire and decay.
And, O King, from His divine mind arose the moon, the celestial force that governs the tides of emotion and thought. Just as the moon waxes and wanes, so too does the restless mind sway between clarity and confusion, between peace and turbulence. The moon holds within it all forms of disorder—the flickering thoughts that move to and fro, the wandering nature of the mind, and the unsteady waves of desire and doubt. Thus, the mind itself is but a reflection of this cosmic moon, forever shifting yet ever bound to the will of the Supreme."
As Sri Śukācārya continued, Pariksit listened not with ears alone, but with his entire being. For यथा ब्रह्माण्डे तथा पिण्डाण्डे — as is the cosmos, so is the being. The Virāt Puruṣa was no longer distant; He breathed through his lungs and pulsed through his veins and arteries. He stirred in his thoughts and shimmered in his discernment. Dharana of Virāt Puruṣa had begun.
In that moment, Parīkṣit no longer saw the universe as outside himself. The stars, the rivers, the gods — all danced within the sacred temple of his own awareness.
To behold the Virat Purusha is not merely to visualize a divine form, but to surrender the illusion of separation. The mind—long caught in the traps of 'I' and 'mine,' of gain and loss, of joy and sorrow—begins to loosen its grip. In this sacred seeing, the dualities of Maya soften, and the seeker awakens to a truth that was always present—only veiled by ignorance.
Śrī Vādirāja Tīrtharu (1480–1600), revered saint and composer, authored the Virāṭa Puruṣa Dhyāna in colloquial Kannada. Believed to be the future incarnation of Vāyu in the coming Kalpa, he infused the hymn with profound spiritual vision and set it to rāga, tāla, and bhāva for devotional recitation. In the Phala Śruti (verse of benefits), he declares it can dispel misfortune, remove dishonor, and grant closeness to the Lord, culminating in mukti (liberation). Today, this sacred stotra remains a cherished part of daily worship.
May wish to check-out here: Virata Murthy Dhyana - Sri Vadirajaru
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