Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.56.26
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
-
prāṇaḥ
—
the life air
From √an (to breathe). Bhagavān is named first as the breath of every living being — the most intimate possible recognition. Gauḍīya pranāma-mantras begin from this fact: He is closer than the breath.
-
viṣṇum
—
Lord Viṣṇu
Accusative of Viṣṇu — 'He who pervades'. Jāmbavān names Him not 'Kṛṣṇa' first but 'Viṣṇu' — reaching for the most cosmic name his Rāmāyaṇa-era memory can supply. The chapter's tattva-pivot.
-
purāṇa-puruṣam
—
the primeval Person
Compound: purāṇa (ancient, original) + puruṣam (Person). The same epithet the Vedānta-sūtra and Gītā use for the Supreme. Jāmbavān is reciting standard tattva because he has finally tasted it — vedānta breaks out of his mouth.
-
adhīśvaram
—
the supreme controller
Compound: adhi (over, supreme) + īśvaram (controller). Above all īśvaras — devas, rulers, demigods. Jāmbavān places Kṛṣṇa above the very Sūrya whose jewel started this entire chapter.
If all the prana of all the living entities of all the billions of universes were brought together, and if all the strengths of all the senses (oja), mind (saha) and bodies (bala) were brought together, I know it all as you alone, since all of that is just your vibhuti. Thus how can your strength be countered by the strength of one entity like me? It is like Garuda being challenged by a butterfly. You are Visnu, the pervader of all, and I am a single pervaded person. You are the ancient person, and I am the young person. You are endowed with all power (prabha visnum), and I am without power. You are the controller of all(adisvaram) and I am the controlled.
You have inconceivable powers (prabhaviṣṇum) and the controller of all (adhīśvaram). Realizing his great strength her first praises him because of his great powers. I have the ability to know this because of the following. He then recites the verse. He is said to be the prānā, ojas, saha and bala because he is non-different from his śaktis. He is shown to be the antaryāmī puruṣa pervading the jīvas (viṣṇum). He pervades everything as purāṇa-puruṣa, the totality of all things (Garbhodakaśāyī). And he pervades prakṛt (prabhaviṣṇu). He has greater power than that however. He has power of all the spiritual realms (adhīśvaram). He has power over everything. This means he is Svayam Bhagavān.
Realizing Kṛṣṇa’s great strength, Jāmbavān first praised him for his great power. I always know you (jāne), or have known you continuously as the life air of all jīvas, which maintains their bodies or you are simply their life. I know you as the sensory, mental and bodily strength of all living beings. Since he is the source of all these items, he is considered non-different from them. By your śakti you spread everywhere (viṣṇum). You exist before Brahmā and others (purāṇa-puruṣam). You are famous as Viṣṇu. Vāmana is excluded. You always have fresh powers (prabhaviṣṇum). You are the original controller. Brahmā and others are excluded. The terms are in order of increasing power.
- Where does losing teach you about the source of strength better than winning would?
- What confession has been waiting at the end of long combat?
Jāmbavān recognises Bhagavān as the very prāṇa of his own breath — the one he has been fighting was the one breathing him through the fight. Every blow he gave was lent its force by the recipient. The recognition is total.
When Hanumān first leapt to Laṅkā, he did not know whether the deity he sought was form or formless. Sītā's chastity, Rāvaṇa's pride, Vibhīṣaṇa's surrender — each meeting deepened his recognition.
Jāmbavān, Hanumān's old companion, makes the same recognition here in the cave — but now of Kṛṣṇa as the same Rāma whose army he once led. The line 'I know You as Viṣṇu, the original Person' is the bear's Hanumān-moment in a new yuga.
My note
Source: vedabase.io