Shloka 19

Brahmā’s Creation: The Kumāras, Rudra, the Prajāpatis, and the Manifestation of Vedic Sound

Devanagari script

तपसैव परं ज्योतिर्भगवन्तमधोक्षजम् । सर्वभूतगुहावासमञ्जसा विन्दते पुमान् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

tapasaiva paraṁ jyotir bhagavantam adhokṣajam sarva-bhūta-guhāvāsam añjasā vindate pumān

Translation

কেবল তপস্যার দ্বারাই মানুষ পরম জ্যোতি অধোক্ষজ ভগবানকে লাভ করে—যিনি সকল জীবের হৃদয়-গুহায় অধিষ্ঠান করেন, তবু ইন্দ্রিয়ের অগম্য।

Synonyms

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis particle (अवधारण)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifies ज्योतिः

• ज्योतिः: light, splendor
• ज्योतिः: Karma (कर्म; object of vindate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भगवन्तम्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवन्तम्: Karma (कर्म; appositional object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; apposition to ज्योतिः

• अधोक्षजम्: Adhokṣaja (beyond sense perception)
• अधोक्षजम्: Karma (कर्म; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधोक्षज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; epithet of Bhagavān

• सर्वभूतगुहावासम्: dwelling in the hearts (caves) of all beings
• सर्वभूतगुहावासम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + भूत + गुहा + वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास (सर्वेषां भूतानां गुहायां वासः यस्य/यः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; adjective to (भगवन्तम्/अधोक्षजम्)

• अञ्जसा: directly, easily
• अञ्जसा: Visheshana (विशेषण; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अञ्जसा (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb ‘directly/easily’ (प्रकार)

• विन्दते: finds, attains
• विन्दते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• पुमान्: a man, a person
• पुमान्: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Purport

Rudra was advised by Brahmā to perform penance as an example to his sons and followers that penance is necessary for attaining the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In Bhagavad-gītā it is said that the common mass of people follow the path shown by an authority. Thus Brahmā, disgusted with the Rudra generations and afraid of being devoured by the increase of population, asked Rudra to stop producing such an unwanted generation and take to penance for attaining the favor of the Supreme Lord. Therefore we find in pictures that Rudra is always sitting in meditation for the attainment of the favor of the Lord. Indirectly, the sons and followers of Rudra are advised to stop the business of annihilation, following the Rudra principle while the peaceful creation of Brahmā is going on.

Characters & Entities

• Adhokṣaja (Bhagavān)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about realizing God through tapasya?

This verse states that through tapasya (austerity), one can directly and swiftly attain the Supreme Lord Adhokṣaja, the transcendental Reality beyond material sense perception.

Why does Brahmā describe the Lord as dwelling in the hearts of all beings?

Brahmā emphasizes that the Supreme Lord is present as the indwelling witness (Paramātmā) within every living being, so realization is not merely external—it is also an inner discovery through purification.

Practical application of tapasya in modern life according to this shloka?

Adopt disciplined, purifying practices—regulated habits, restraint of senses, and focused spiritual routines—so the heart becomes clear and the indwelling Lord is realized more directly.