Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

आन्वीक्षिकी त्रयी वार्ता दण्डनीतिस्तथैव च । एवं व्याहृतयश्वासन् प्रणवो ह्यस्य दहृत: ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

ānvīkṣikī trayī vārtā daṇḍa-nītis tathaiva ca evaṁ vyāhṛtayaś cāsan praṇavo hy asya dahrataḥ

Translation

আন্বীক্ষিকী (যুক্তিবিদ্যা), ত্রয়ী (বেদবিদ্যা), বার্তা ও দণ্ডনীতি—এসব প্রকাশিত হল; আর ভূঃ, ভুবঃ, স্বঃ—এই ব্যাহৃতিগুলিও; এবং প্রণব ‘ওঁকার’ ব্রহ্মার হৃদয় থেকে উদ্ভূত হল।

Synonyms

• आन्वीक्षिकी: logic/inquiry (ānvīkṣikī)
• आन्वीक्षिकी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आन्वीक्षिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; शास्त्रनाम

• त्रयी: the three Vedas (trayī)
• त्रयी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; वेदत्रयवाचक

• वार्ता: economics/agriculture (vārttā)
• वार्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• दण्ड-नीतिः: politics/governance (daṇḍanīti)
• दण्ड-नीतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + नीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दण्डस्य नीति:)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थक (also/likewise)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (indeed/just)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थक (thus/in this way)

• व्याहृतयः: the sacred utterances (vyāhṛtis)
• व्याहृतयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याहृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• आसन्: were
• आसन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• प्रणवः: the praṇava (Oṁ)
• प्रणवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक (for/indeed)

• अस्य: of him/of this
• अस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दहृतः: dahṛtaḥ (textual form; sense uncertain)
• दहृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दहृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (पाठान्तर/दुर्लभ-रूप; अर्थतः ‘हृदयात्/हृतः’ इत्यादि सन्दिग्ध)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the origin of Om (praṇava)?

This verse states that the praṇava (oṁ) was manifested—drawn forth—from Brahmā, indicating oṁ as a primordial Vedic sound revealed at the dawn of creation.

Why does the Bhagavatam mention ānvīkṣikī, vārtā, and daṇḍa-nīti along with the Vedas?

The verse presents a complete Vedic civilization: spiritual revelation (trayī) supported by inquiry (ānvīkṣikī), righteous livelihood (vārtā), and dharmic governance (daṇḍa-nīti), all arising in the cosmic order connected with Brahmā.

Practical application of daṇḍa-nīti and vārtā in modern life?

Live honestly through productive work (vārtā) and support fair rules and accountability (daṇḍa-nīti), aligning personal ethics and social order with dharma rather than exploitation.