Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 13

Sāṅkhya of Creation and Annihilation

Sarga–Nirodha-viveka

Devanagari script

अधोऽसुराणां नागानां भूमेरोकोऽसृजत् प्रभुः । त्रिलोक्यां गतयः सर्वाः कर्मणां त्रिगुणात्मनाम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

adho ’surāṇāṁ nāgānāṁ bhūmer oko ’sṛjat prabhuḥ tri-lokyāṁ gatayaḥ sarvāḥ karmaṇāṁ tri-guṇātmanām

Translation

Lord Brahmā created the region below the earth for the demons and the Nāga snakes. In this way the destinations of the three worlds were arranged as the corresponding reactions for different kinds of work performed within the three modes of nature.

Synonyms

• अधः: below
• अधः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (दिशावाचक-अव्यय)

• असुराणाम्: of the Asuras
• असुराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• नागानाम्: of the Nāgas
• नागानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• भूमेः: of the earth
• भूमेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ओकः: abode
• ओकः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओकस्/ओकः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• त्रिलोक्याम्: in the three worlds
• त्रिलोक्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu compound (त्रयः लोकाः), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• गतयः: paths, destinations
• गतयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifier of गतयः

• कर्मणाम्: of actions
• कर्मणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• त्रिगुणात्मनाम्: whose nature is the three guṇas
• त्रिगुणात्मनाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpurusha compound (त्रयः गुणाः आत्मा/स्वभावः येषाम्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifier of कर्मणाम्

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava
• Asuras
• Nāgas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about different planetary destinations based on karma?

This verse states that the Lord arranged various destinations throughout the three worlds, and living beings reach them according to their actions, which are influenced by the three guṇas.

Why does Krishna describe the realms of Asuras and Nagas to Uddhava?

In His Sāṅkhya explanation to Uddhava, Kṛṣṇa outlines how the Lord organizes the cosmos and how conditioned souls, driven by the guṇas, move to different realms by karma.

Practical application of the three guṇas and karma teaching in modern life?

By observing how sattva, rajas, and tamas influence your choices, you can cultivate sattva and devotion, reduce harmful impulses, and consciously act in ways that elevate your future course.