Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 53

Bhṛgu Tests the Trimūrti; Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna Visit Mahā-Viṣṇu and Recover the Brāhmaṇa’s Sons

Devanagari script

तस्मिन् महाभोगमनन्तमद्भ‍ुतं सहस्रमूर्धन्यफणामणिद्युभि: । विभ्राजमानं द्विगुणेक्षणोल्बणं सिताचलाभं शितिकण्ठजिह्वम् ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

tasmin mahā-bhogam anantam adbhutaṁ sahasra-mūrdhanya-phaṇā-maṇi-dyubhiḥ vibhrājamānaṁ dvi-guṇekṣaṇolbaṇaṁ sitācalābhaṁ śiti-kaṇṭha-jihvam

Translation

In that palace was the huge, awe-inspiring serpent Ananta Śeṣa. He shone brilliantly with the radiance emanating from the gems on His thousands of hoods and reflecting from twice as many fearsome eyes. He resembled white Mount Kailāsa, and His necks and tongues were dark blue.

Synonyms

• tasmin: in that (place)
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• mahā-bhogam: great/coiled (with huge body)
• mahā-bhogam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (mahān bhogaḥ)

• anantam: endless
• anantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• adbhutam: wonderful
• adbhutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sahasra-mūrdhanya-phaṇā-maṇi-dyubhiḥ: by the radiances of jewels on the hoods atop a thousand heads
• sahasra-mūrdhanya-phaṇā-maṇi-dyubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrdhanya (प्रातिपदिक) + phaṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + dyuti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (dyuti), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (sahasra-mūrdhanya-phaṇāsu maṇīnām dyutibhiḥ)

• vibhrājamānam: shining brilliantly
• vibhrājamānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√bhrāj (भ्राज् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘shining forth’

• dvi-guṇa-īkṣaṇa-ulbaṇam: formidable with double-fold gaze/eyes
• dvi-guṇa-īkṣaṇa-ulbaṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ulbaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (dvi-guṇam īkṣaṇam; īkṣaṇena ulbaṇam)

• sitācalābham: having the appearance of a white mountain
• sitācalābham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sita (प्रातिपदिक) + acala (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (sitācala-sadṛśa ābhaḥ)

• śiti-kaṇṭha-jihvam: with tongue like a dark-blue throat
• śiti-kaṇṭha-jihvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiti (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + jihvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (śiti-kaṇṭhasya jihvā iva/śiti-kaṇṭhā jihvā yasya)

Characters & Entities

• Ananta Śeṣa

FAQs

Who is Ananta Śeṣa in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

Ananta Śeṣa is the infinite divine serpent, an expansion of the Lord who serves as His cosmic support and is described here as wondrous and supremely effulgent with jeweled hoods.

What does “thousand hoods with jeweled radiance” signify in Bhagavatam 10.89?

It emphasizes Ananta’s limitless grandeur—His many hoods symbolize vastness and cosmic function, while the jewels’ radiance conveys divine splendor and transcendental beauty.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

It trains the mind to contemplate the Lord’s majesty (aiśvarya) and inspires reverence—supporting steadiness in bhakti by remembering that the Supreme is both beautiful and unlimited.