Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 12

The Glories of Lord Ananta (Śeṣa/Saṅkarṣaṇa) and the Cosmic Foundation Beneath Pātāla

Devanagari script

मूर्धन्यर्पितमणुवत्सहस्रमूर्ध्नो भूगोलं सगिरिसरित्समुद्रसत्त्वम् । आनन्त्यादनिमितविक्रमस्य भूम्न: को वीर्याण्यधिगणयेत्सहस्रजिह्व: ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

mūrdhany arpitam aṇuvat sahasra-mūrdhno bhū-golaṁ sagiri-sarit-samudra-sattvam ānantyād animita-vikramasya bhūmnaḥ ko vīryāṇy adhi gaṇayet sahasra-jihvaḥ

Translation

Because the Lord is unlimited, no one can estimate His power. This entire universe, filled with its many great mountains, rivers, oceans, trees and living entities, is resting just like an atom on one of His many thousands of hoods. Is there anyone, even with thousands of tongues, who can describe His glories?

Synonyms

• mūrdhani: on (his) head
• mūrdhani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• arpitam: placed, set
• arpitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √arp (अर्प् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त); Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifies bhū-golam

• aṇu-vat: as if tiny/like an atom
• aṇu-vat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aṇu + vat (वत् प्रत्यय; अव्ययवत्)
• Form: Indeclinable comparative adverb (उपमानार्थक-क्रियाविशेषण)

• sahasra-mūrdhnaḥ: of the thousand-headed (Ananta)
• sahasra-mūrdhnaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'of thousand heads'); Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• bhū-golam: the globe of the earth
• bhū-golam: Karma (कर्म) (object described as placed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक) + gola (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-भाव: 'earth-sphere'); Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sa-giri-sarit-samudra-sattvam: with its mountains, rivers, oceans, and creatures
• sa-giri-sarit-samudra-sattvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह-उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + giri (प्रातिपदिक) + sarit (प्रातिपदिक) + samudra (प्रातिपदिक) + sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa with 'sa-' (सह/समेतार्थ): 'together with mountains, rivers, oceans, and beings'; Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies bhū-golam

• ānantyāt: because of infinity
• ānantyāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānantya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; reason/cause

• animita-vikramasya: of (him) whose prowess is immeasurable
• animita-vikramasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: animita (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: 'unmeasured might'; Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• bhūmnaḥ: of the greatness/majesty
• bhūmnaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• kaḥ: who?
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ka (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; interrogative pronoun

• vīryāṇi: powers, heroic deeds
• vīryāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• adhi: fully, over
• adhi: Upasarga (उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhi (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: Indeclinable preverb/particle used with gaṇayet (intensifier: 'fully/over')

• gaṇayet: could count/enumerate
• gaṇayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gaṇ (गण् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• sahasra-jihvaḥ: the thousand-tongued one
• sahasra-jihvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (implied: even he cannot)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + jihvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi: 'one who has a thousand tongues'; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; epithet (of Ananta/Śeṣa)

Characters & Entities

• Ananta (Śeṣa)
• Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Ananta Shesha holding the earth?

This verse says the entire earth—with mountains, rivers, oceans, and all beings—rests on Ananta’s head as lightly as an atom, highlighting His divine support of the cosmos.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the Lord as impossible to glorify even with a thousand tongues?

Because the Lord’s greatness and prowess are unlimited; even vast speech capacity cannot fully enumerate His vīrya (divine powers and heroic glories).

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Cultivate humility and devotion: recognize the limits of one’s own power and knowledge, and regularly engage in sincere glorification (kīrtana) of the Lord rather than pride in achievement.