Vibhūti

Vibhūti · vi-bhūti, “manifestation of glory”

Bhadrā has other meanings too: see all meanings of Bhadrā.

Grammar: feminine noun, from vi with the root bhū (to be, to become): “becoming in many ways, coming forth in power”. Vibhūtayaḥ in the plural, the vibhūtis.

Meaning: a manifestation of glory; the forms in which the greatness of Bhagavān Śrī Hari shines forth in the world, and the powers and glories that come to a devotee by his grace.

In the scriptures: the Bhāgavata Purāṇa uses the word for the countless glories of Śrī Kṛshṇa, and for the glories a yogī gains by the grace of Bhagavān Śrī Hari.

Śrī Kṛshṇa’s vibhūtis. Uddhava asked Śrī Kṛshṇa in which bhāvas the maharshis worship him with bhakti and gain moksha, and begged him: “In Bhūloka, in Devaloka, in Rasātala and in all directions you have shown your vibhūtis full of your greatness. Tell me all of them.” Śrī Kṛshṇa said that Arjuna had asked him the same at Kurukshetra, and told them: he is the antaryāmī and the ātmā of all beings; among mantras he is the Oṃkāra, among letters “a”, among metres the Gāyatrī; among devatās Indra, among the Vasus Agni, among the Rudras Śiva; among devarshis Nārada, among birds Garuḍa, among the nāgas Ādi Śesha; among tīrthas the Gaṅgā, among trees the aśvattha, among yugas the Kṛta Yuga; among vratas ahiṃsā, among the limbs of yoga samādhi; among devotees Uddhava himself, among vānaras Hanumān, and among heroes Arjuna. Then he said: “In some time I could count the paramāṇus; but I, who create crores of brahmāṇḍas, cannot count my vibhūtis.” And he gave the rule: wherever there are tejas, wealth, beauty, fame, lordship, shame at doing wrong, delightfulness, good fortune, strength, forbearance and true knowledge, they are his vibhūtis (Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 11, Chapter 16).

Kardama‘s vibhūtis. When Devahūti had served Kardama Prajāpati for long years, he said to her: “Steadfast in my svadharma, with one-pointed mind, I performed tapas, dhyāna and upāsanā and gained the vibhūtis, which are forms of the grace of Bhagavān Śrī Hari. In the divine bhogas they bring there is neither fear nor grief. Since you have served me without break, they are now in your power too. I shall give you divine sight: see them” (Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 3, Chapter 23).

Related terms: Aiśvarya · Mahimā · Siddhi · Bhakti · Antaryāmī

Sources

• Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 3, Chapter 23; Skandha 11, Chapter 16