Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 27

Kūrma Supports Mandara; Hālahala Appears; Śiva Becomes Nīlakaṇṭha

Devanagari script

नाभिर्नभस्ते श्वसनं नभस्वान् सूर्यश्च चक्षूंषि जलं स्म रेत: । परावरात्माश्रयणं तवात्मा सोमो मनो द्यौर्भगवन् शिरस्ते ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

nābhir nabhas te śvasanaṁ nabhasvān sūryaś ca cakṣūṁṣi jalaṁ sma retaḥ parāvarātmāśrayaṇaṁ tavātmā somo mano dyaur bhagavan śiras te

Translation

O lord, the sky is your navel, the air is your breathing, the sun is your eyes, and the water is your semen. You are the shelter of all kinds of living entities, high and low. The god of the moon is your mind, and the upper planetary system is your head.

Synonyms

• नाभिः: navel
• नाभिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; predicate set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति

• नभः: sky; space
• नभः: विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; here प्रथमा (predicate)

• ते: your
• ते: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive singular)

• श्वसनम्: breath; breathing
• श्वसनम्: विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; here प्रथमा (predicate)

• नभस्वान्: wind (Vāyu)
• नभस्वान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; predicate set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति

• सूर्यः: sun
• सूर्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; predicate set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चक्षूंषि: eyes
• चक्षूंषि: विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; here प्रथमा (predicate)

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; here प्रथमा (predicate)

• स्म: indeed; (particle)
• स्म: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/पादपूरण-अव्यय (particle; emphatic/metrical)

• रेतः: semen; generative fluid
• रेतः: विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; here प्रथमा (predicate)

• पर-अवर-आत्म-आश्रयणम्: support/refuge of the higher and the lower
• पर-अवर-आत्म-आश्रयणम्: विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + अवर (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रयण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला (परावरयोः आत्मनः आश्रयणम् = refuge/support of higher and lower selves/beings)

• तव: of you; your
• तव: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive singular)

• आत्मा: self
• आत्मा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; predicate set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति

• सोमः: moon; Soma
• सोमः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; predicate set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति

• मनः: mind
• मनः: विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; here प्रथमा (predicate)

• द्यौः: heaven; sky
• द्यौः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; predicate set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति

• भगवन्: O Lord
• भगवन्: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative singular)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; here प्रथमा (predicate)

• ते: your
• ते: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive singular)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Śiva
• Sūrya
• Soma (Chandra)
• Vāyu

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 8.7.27 say about Lord Shiva’s cosmic form?

It portrays Śiva as a universal embodiment: sky as His navel, wind as His breath, sun as His eyes, water as His creative seed, moon as His mind, and the heavens as His head—showing His all-pervading greatness.

Why are the demigods praising Lord Shiva in Canto 8 Chapter 7?

During the churning of the ocean, deadly poison arises and threatens the universe; the Devas glorify Śiva’s supremacy and seek his protection as he prepares to save all beings.

How can this verse be applied in modern spiritual life?

It trains the mind to see the Divine in nature and cosmos, cultivating reverence, humility, and steady devotion—especially in times of crisis when protection and surrender are needed.