सर्वतः पाणिपादं तत्सर्वतोऽक्षिशिरोमुखम्।सर्वतः श्रुतिमल्लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति।।13.14।।
sarvataḥ pāṇipādaṃ tat sarvato 'kṣiśiro mukhaṃ; sarvataḥ śrutim alloke sarvam āvṛtya tiṣṭhati
Translation
Everywhere are His hands and feet, and likewise His eyes, heads and faces. His ears are also everywhere in the world, for He pervades all of creation.
Word Meanings
sarvataḥ — everywhere; pāṇi — hand(s); pādaḥ — foot/feet; tat — that; sarvato — from everywhere; akṣi — eye(s); śiraḥ — head(s); mukham — face(s); śrutim — hearing/ear(s); alloka — in the world; sarvam — everything; āvṛtya — covering; tiṣṭhati — stands, remains
Understanding the Verse
This verse depicts the omnipresence of the Supreme Reality, emphasizing that the Divine is not confined to a single form or place. By stating that His hands (pāṇi) and feet (pāda) are "everywhere," the text conveys that the Divine touches every corner of the universe, performing the work of creation, maintenance, and dissolution in all directions. The inclusion of eyes (akṣi), heads (śira), and faces (mukha) further expands this pervasiveness, suggesting that the Divine perceives all that occurs, offering vision and consciousness to every particle of existence.
The reference to "śrutim" – hearing – indicates that the Divine's sense of sound or consciousness is also omnipresent. In Vedic thought, hearing is associated with the subtle inner sense that discerns the subtle vibrations (shabda) underlying material reality. Thus, the verse implies that the Divine is attuned to the subtle frequencies that pervade the cosmos, guiding and sustaining the order that manifests as the physical world.
The phrase "alloke" (in the world) underscores that this pervasion transcends the material realm and includes the entire sphere of existence, both visible and invisible. It affirms that the Same Divine essence animates the heavens, the earth, the mind, and even the innermost depths of the heart. By "āvṛtya tiṣṭhati" (covering and standing), the verse portrays the Divine as a veil that both conceals and reveals, a presence that supports the universe while remaining beyond complete comprehension.
Philosophically, this description aligns with the Sankhya concept of "Prakṛti" (nature) being pervaded by "Purusha" (consciousness) and the Vedantic notion that Brahman is "Sarvavyapi" – all-pervading. The imagery of hands and feet suggests activity (karma) while eyes, heads, and faces reflect awareness (jnana). Hearing, being a subtler faculty, points to the deeper spiritual intuition that perceives truth beyond the sensory world. Hence, the verse integrates action, perception, and subtle awareness into a single, all-encompassing Divine.
Practically, this verse invites the seeker to recognize the Divine presence in every aspect of daily life. Whether performing duties (hands), walking the path (feet), studying scriptures (eyes), contemplating the divine in worship (head), or listening to the teachings of the sages (ears), each act becomes a contact with the Supreme. By seeing the Divine in all these functions, one cultivates reverence, humility, and a sense of unity with the totality of existence, gradually dissolving the illusion of separateness.
Thus, Chapter 13, Verse 14 serves as a concise yet profound reminder that the Divine is not a distant deity but an intimate, ever-present reality that sustains, perceives, and guides the universe in every direction, at every moment.
