Naama 839-846: The Lord's eight superhuman powers (ashTa aisvaryas)

अणुर्बृहत्कृशः स्थूलो गुणभृन्निर्गुणो महान् ।

अधृतः स्वधृतः स्वास्यः प्राग्वंशो वंशवर्धनः ॥ ९० ॥

aṇurbṛhatkṛśaḥ sthūlō guṇabhṛnnirguṇō mahān |

adhṛtaḥ svadhṛtaḥ svāsyaḥ prāgvaṃśō vaṃśavardhanaḥ || 90 ||

839. aṇuḥ · अणुः

The one who can enter into the most subtle of places, such as the tiny space in the heart (the dahara AkAsa), into prakruti, and into the subtle jeevaathma.

(oṃ) aṇavē namaḥ

From this naama, Sri Bhattar describes the sublime greatness of the Lord, who possesses the eight superhuman powers, such as becoming as small as an atom (aṇimā). The Taittiriya Upanishad says, "He is subtler than the subtlest" (aṇōraṇīyān). It is also said, "He is much smaller than the atom itself, and more subtle than the fibre of the lotus stalk."

840. bṛhat · बृहत्

The one who is greater than anything we know as great (mahimā).

(oṃ) bṛhatē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar describes the Lord's greatness in terms of His pervasion. Even the vast Paramapadam can be contained in a part of Him. The Purusha Suktam says, "Pervading the earth on all sides, He extended beyond it by ten fingers' breadth" (sa bhūmim viśvatō vṛtvā atyatiṣṭhad daśāṅgulam).

841. kṛśaḥ · कृशः

The one who is lighter than cotton or the wind (laghimā), so that His movement is unhindered everywhere and in every way.

(oṃ) kṛśāya namaḥ

842. sthūlaḥ · स्थूलः

The one who can become as massive as He wishes (garimā).

(oṃ) sthūlāya namaḥ

When Namuchi tried to stop the Lord from growing as Trivikrama, the Lord grew to an immense size and overpowered him. When the Lord rested His weight on the earth as Varaha, the earth could bear it only because He Himself supported it.

843. guṇabhṛt · गुणभृत्

The one who supports everything that is made of the three gunas, sattva, rajas, and tamas.

(oṃ) guṇabhṛtē namaḥ

This naama refers to the power of lordship over all things (Isitvam).

844. nirguṇaḥ · निर्गुणः

The one who, even though He is in contact with all beings all the time, is not tainted by any of their defects, because He is not subject to anyone and is above all.

(oṃ) nirguṇāya namaḥ

The Lord supports the three gunas, as the previous naama says, but He Himself is beyond their influence. Sri Bhattar explains that this naama refers to the power of holding all others under His control (vaśitvam). It does not mean that the Lord has no qualities; He is full of auspicious qualities, but free from the qualities of prakruti and from all defects.

845. mahān · महान्

The one who is supremely excellent in everything, and can do whatever He wishes, like plunging into the earth (prākāmyam).

(oṃ) mahatē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes, "The powerful Lord Sauri brings things together and takes them apart as He chooses. Whatever He wishes, He does without effort."

846. adhṛtaḥ · अधृतः

The one who is completely unobstructed and unconstrained in achieving whatever He wants (prāpti).

(oṃ) adhṛtāya namaḥ