Chapter 1 · Prathamo’dhyāyaḥ (First Chapter)
Verse 84
सोऽपि निद्रावशं नीतः कस्त्वां स्तोतुमिहेश्वरः। विष्णुः शरीरग्रहणमहमीशान एव च ॥ ८४ ॥
sō’pi nidrāvaśaṁ nītaḥ kastvāṁ stōtumihēśvaraḥ | viṣṇuḥ śarīragrahaṇamahamīśāna ēva ca || 84 ||
Translation
'Even he (Vishnu) has been brought under the control of sleep. Who here is capable of praising you? For Vishnu, I (Brahmā), and indeed Īśāna (Shiva) too, assume our bodies (and perform our functions) only through you.'
Word by word
- saḥ
- he (Vishnu)
- api
- even
- nidrāvaśam
- under the control of sleep
- nītaḥ
- has been brought
- kaḥ
- who
- tvām
- you
- stotum
- to praise
- iha
- here, in this world
- īśvaraḥ
- lord, capable
- viṣṇuḥ
- Vishnu
- śarīragrahaṇam
- the assumption of a body (for creation, etc.)
- aham
- I
- īśānaḥ
- Shiva (the ruler)
- eva
- also
- ca
- and
Meaning
Brahmā drives home his point about the Goddess's supreme power. If even Vishnu, the sustainer, is under the spell of her sleep (nidrā), then who is left who can truly praise her? He reveals the fundamental truth: the entire Trinity (Vishnu, Brahmā, and Shiva) derives its power and very existence from her. They are her instruments.