Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

मायाद्यैर्नवभिस्तत्त्वै: स विकारमयो विराट् । निर्मितो द‍ृश्यते यत्र सचित्के भुवनत्रयम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

māyādyair navabhis tattvaiḥ sa vikāra-mayo virāṭ nirmito dṛśyate yatra sa-citke bhuvana-trayam

Translation

إنّ الصورة الكونية (فيراط) للربّ تتكوّن من العناصر الأساسية التسعة، ابتداءً من المايا غير المتجلّية وما يتبعها من تحوّلات؛ فإذا سُرِيَت فيها الشعورية ظهرت العوالم الثلاثة في داخلها.

Synonyms

• माया-आद्यैः: by (those) beginning with māyā
• माया-आद्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण) बहुवचनम्; ‘मायादि’ इति तत्पुरुषसमासः (माया-आदि = beginning with māyā)

• नवभिः: by nine
• नवभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण) बहुवचनम्; संख्याविशेषणम्

• तत्त्वैः: principles/elements
• तत्त्वैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण) बहुवचनम्

• सः: he/that (Virāṭ)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• विकार-मयः: consisting of modifications
• विकार-मयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकार (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘विकारमय’ इति तत्पुरुषः (विकारैः मयः = consisting of transformations)

• विराट्: the Virāṭ (cosmic person/form)
• विराट्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराज्/विराट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• निर्मितः: created/constructed
• निर्मितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√मा (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्तः—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘निर्मितः’ = ‘has been created’

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः—‘is seen/appears’

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• स-चित्के: in (that) sat-cit (being-consciousness)
• स-चित्के: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्; ‘सच्चित्’ इति द्वन्द्वसमासः (sat + cit)

• भुवन-त्रयम्: the three worlds
• भुवन-त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवन (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; द्विगुसमासः (three worlds)

Purport

The nine basic elements of creation are prakṛti, sūtra, mahat-tattva, false ego, and the five subtle perceptions. The transformations are the eleven senses and the five gross material elements.

Characters & Entities

• Virāṭ
• Māyā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Virat (universal) form?

This verse explains that the Virāṭ form is manifested from Māyā and related principles, and within that cosmic form the three worlds are perceived as part of the created, transformable reality.

Why is Maya mentioned in connection with creation in Bhagavatam 12.11?

Because the Bhagavatam describes the manifest universe as arising through Māyā—God’s external potency—by which the tattvas unfold and the Virāṭ becomes perceivable to conditioned consciousness.

Practical application of this teaching on maya and the three worlds in modern life?

See worldly experience as temporary and transformed, and anchor the mind in devotion to the Lord beyond māyā, using discernment to reduce attachment and anxiety.