FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.9.1

श्रीशुक उवाच तस्यासन् विश्वरूपस्य शिरांसि त्रीणि भारत । सोमपीथं सुरापीथमन्नादमिति शुश्रुम ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca
[shree-shuka uvaacha]
tasyāsan viśvarūpasya
[tasyaasan vishvaroopasya]
śirāṁsi trīṇi bhārata
[shiraamsi treeni bhaarata]
soma-pīthaṁ surā-pītham
[soma-peetham suraa-peetham]
annādam iti śuśruma
[annaadam iti shushruma]
Word-for-word
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said tasya — of him āsan — there were viśvarūpasya — of Viśvarūpa, the priest of the demigods śirāṁsi — heads trīṇi — three bhārata — O Mahārāja Parīkṣit soma-pītham — used for drinking the beverage soma surā-pītham — used for drinking wine anna-adam — used for eating iti — thus śuśruma — I have heard by the paramparā system.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-śuka uvāca
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
tasyāsan viśvarūpasya
tasya
of him
āsan
there were
viśvarūpasya
of Viśvarūpa, the priest of the demigods
śirāṁsi trīṇi bhārata
śirāṁsi
heads
trīṇi
three
bhārata
O Mahārāja Parīkṣit
soma-pīthaṁ surā-pītham
soma-pītham
used for drinking the beverage soma
surā-pītham
used for drinking wine
annādam iti śuśruma
anna-adam
used for eating
iti
thus
śuśruma
I have heard by the paramparā system.
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Viśvarūpa, who was engaged as the priest of the demigods, had three heads. He used one to drink the beverage soma-rasa, another to drink wine and the third to eat food. O King Parīkṣit, thus I have heard from authorities.
Purport

One cannot directly perceive the kingdom of heaven, its king and other inhabitants, or how they perform their various engagements, for no one can go to the heavenly planets. Although modern scientists have invented many powerful space vehicles, they cannot even go to the moon, not to speak of other planets. By direct experience one cannot learn anything beyond the range of human perception. One must hear from authorities. Therefore Śukadeva Gosvāmī, a great personality, says, “What I am describing to you, O King, is what I have heard from authoritative sources.” This is the Vedic system. The Vedic knowledge is called śruti because it must be received by being heard from authorities. It is beyond the realm of our false experimental knowledge.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Śrī Śukadeva said: O King Parīkṣit! I have heard that Viśvarūpa had three heads, one for drinking soma-rasa, another for drinking wine and a third for eating food. In the ninth chapter Indra kills Viśvarūpa, Tvaṣṭā produces Vṛtrāsura and the Lord, after being praised by the devatās, instructs the devatās how to obtain the thunderbolt. Soma-pītham means “drinking soma.” Annadam means “eating food.” The śruti also describes Viśvarūpa’s position. [Note: It is found in Mahābhārata 12.329.17.] Viśvarūpo vai tvāṣtṛaḥ purohito devānām āsīt: Viśvarūpa, son of Tvastā was the priest of the devatās.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Viśvarūpa had three heads — one for soma, one for wine, one for food. Even a great priest can hold multiple appetites in one body; the question is which heads serve which loyalties.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'three heads' do I keep — and what does each one consume?
  • Are all of them pointed in compatible directions?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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