Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 13

Kriyā-yoga, the Virāṭ-Puruṣa Mapping, and the Sun-God’s Monthly Expansions

Devanagari script

अव्याकृतमनन्ताख्यमासनं यदधिष्ठित: । धर्मज्ञानादिभिर्युक्तं सत्त्वं पद्ममिहोच्यते ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

avyākṛtam anantākhyam āsanaṁ yad-adhiṣṭhitaḥ dharma-jñānādibhir yuktaṁ sattvaṁ padmam ihocyate

Translation

«أننتا» الذي هو مقعد الربّ هو طور الطبيعة المادية غير المتجلّي؛ وأما عرش اللوتس فيُسمّى «سَتْوَة» (صفة الصفاء)، وهو موصوف بالدين والمعرفة وما شابه.

Synonyms

• अव्याकृतम्: unmanifest, uncreated
• अव्याकृतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्याकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — here qualifying ‘आसनम्’ (Nominative singular)

• अनन्त-आख्यम्: called ‘Ananta’
• अनन्त-आख्यम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अनन्त इति आख्यं) — ‘named Ananta’, qualifying ‘आसनम्’

• आसनम्: seat, posture
• आसनम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• यत्: which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — relative pronoun referring to ‘आसनम्’ (Nominative)

• अधिष्ठितः: seated upon (it)
• अधिष्ठितः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि + √स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘having sat/being seated upon’; refers to the Lord

• धर्म-ज्ञान-आदिभिः: with dharma, knowledge, etc.
• धर्म-ज्ञान-आदिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (धर्मं च ज्ञानं च आदयः) — Instrumental plural

• युक्तम्: endowed (with)
• युक्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘endowed/connected’, qualifying ‘सत्त्वम्’

• सत्त्वम्: sattva (purity/being)
• सत्त्वम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• पद्मम्: lotus
• पद्मम्: प्रधानेन विशेष्य (Predicate/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — predicate nominative

• इह: here
• इह: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive) — ‘is said/called’

Characters & Entities

• Ananta (Śeṣa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about sattva-guna and its qualities?

This verse links sattva (goodness) with dharma (righteousness), jñāna (knowledge), and allied virtues, describing such purified goodness as a ‘lotus’—symbolizing clarity and purity.

Who is Ananta mentioned in Bhagavatam 12.11.13 and why is He significant?

Ananta (Śeṣa) is the divine serpent associated with the Lord’s cosmic resting place; the verse refers to the ‘seat’ named Ananta, indicating the transcendental foundation upon which the Lord is situated.

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Cultivate sattva by practicing dharma (ethical living) and jñāna (spiritual study and discernment); as these increase, the mind becomes lotus-like—cleaner, calmer, and more fit for devotion.