Srimad Bhagavatam 10.88.3 — Dashama Skandha, Canto 10, Chapter 88, Verse 3

Hari’s Special Mercy, Śiva’s Quick Boons, and the Deliverance from Vṛkāsura

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच शिव: शक्तियुत: शश्वत् त्रिलिङ्गो गुणसंवृत: । वैकारिकस्तैजसश्च तामसश्चेत्यहं त्रिधा ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca śivaḥ śakti-yutaḥ śaśvat tri-liṅgo guṇa-saṁvṛtaḥ vaikārikas taijasaś ca tāmasaś cety ahaṁ tridhā

Translation

قال شري شوكاديفا: إنّ الربّ شِيفا متحدٌ دائمًا بشكتيه الخاصة، أي البركرتي (الطبيعة المادّية). وهو محجوبٌ بالصفات الثلاث، فيتجلّى بثلاثة أوجه—فايكاريكا وتايجسا وتامسا—مُمثِّلًا مبدأ الأنا المادّية الثلاثي في السَّتْوَة والرَّجَس والتَّمَس.

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शक्ति-युतः: endowed with power
• शक्ति-युतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, युज् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (शक्त्या युतः)

• शश्वत्: always
• शश्वत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शश्वत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• त्रि-लिङ्गः: having three aspects/marks
• त्रि-लिङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि लिङ्गानि यस्य)

• गुण-संवृतः: covered by the guṇas
• गुण-संवृतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + संवृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, सम्+वृ धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (गुणैः संवृतः)

• वैकारिकः: sāttvika (of transformation)
• वैकारिकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैकारिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (अहं इति)

• तैजसः: rājasa (fiery)
• तैजसः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तैजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तामसः: tāmasa (dark)
• तामसः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तामस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• त्रिधा: in three ways
• त्रिधा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Śiva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Shiva and the three gunas?

This verse states that Lord Śiva, though eternally united with Śakti, is described as manifesting in relation to the three modes of nature—goodness, passion, and ignorance—indicating his connection with material qualities in cosmic administration.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvami describing Shiva as 'covered by the modes' in Canto 10 Chapter 88?

In this chapter’s theological explanation, Śukadeva clarifies categories of divinity and cosmic functions, describing how Śiva is associated with the guṇas in the workings of creation, maintenance, and dissolution.

How can the teaching of the three gunas be applied in modern devotional life?

A devotee can observe which mode influences thoughts and actions, reduce tamas and rajas through discipline and purity, and ultimately transcend even sattva by steady bhakti focused on the Supreme Lord.