Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 30

Brahmā’s Secondary Creation, Kāla (Eternal Time), and the Taxonomy of Species

Devanagari script

अत: परं प्रवक्ष्यामि वंशान्मन्वन्तराणि च । एवं रज:प्लुत: स्रष्टा कल्पादिष्वात्मभूर्हरि: । सृजत्यमोघसङ्कल्प आत्मैवात्मानमात्मना ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi vaṁśān manvantarāṇi ca evaṁ rajaḥ-plutaḥ sraṣṭā kalpādiṣv ātmabhūr hariḥ sṛjaty amogha-saṅkalpa ātmaivātmānam ātmanā

Translation

Now I shall describe the descendants of the Manus. The creator, Brahmā, as the incarnation of the passion mode of the Personality of Godhead, creates the universal affairs with unfailing desires in every millennium by the force of the Lord’s energy.

Synonyms

• ataḥ: thereafter/therefore
• ataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/अनन्तरार्थ अव्यय (therefore/thereafter)

• param: further/next
• param: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (accusative used adverbially)

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall explain
• pravakṣyāmi: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vaṁśān: dynasties/lineages
• vaṁśān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṁśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• manvantarāṇi: Manvantaras (Manu-periods)
• manvantarāṇi: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manvantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (manu + antara: ‘period of Manu’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• evam: thus/in this way
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• rajaḥ-plutaḥ: overwhelmed with rajas (passion)
• rajaḥ-plutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rajas (प्रातिपदिक) + pluta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘flooded/filled with rajas’)

• sraṣṭā: the creator
• sraṣṭā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √sṛj (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तृच्/agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kalpa-ādiṣu: in kalpas and so on
• kalpa-ādiṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘in kalpas and the like’)

• ātmabhūḥ: the self-born (Brahmā)
• ātmabhūḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātma (प्रातिपदिक) + bhū (धातु/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘self-born’)

• hariḥ: Hari
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sṛjati: creates
• sṛjati: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• amogha-saṅkalpaḥ: of unfailing will
• amogha-saṅkalpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-mogha (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘whose resolve is unfailing’)

• ātmā: the self
• ātmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• ātmānam: himself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ātmanā: by himself
• ātmanā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

Purport

The cosmic manifestation is an expansion of one of the many energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the creator and the created are both emanations of the same Supreme Truth, as stated in the beginning of the Bhāgavatam: janmādy asya yataḥ.

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Brahmā (Ātma-bhūḥ)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Manvantaras and dynasties?

This verse introduces the forthcoming description of the various dynasties (vaṁśas) and the successive Manvantara periods, situating them within cyclical creation at the start of each kalpa.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention Hari as Ātma-bhū (Brahmā) here?

He emphasizes that the creator Brahmā is empowered and manifested by Hari; creation proceeds through Brahmā at the dawn of kalpas, yet the unfailing will behind it is the Supreme Lord.

Practical application of “amogha-saṅkalpa” (infallible resolve) in modern life?

It inspires steadiness in dharma and devotion: align your intentions with truth and service, and cultivate disciplined follow-through, remembering the Supreme’s purpose is never frustrated.