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

Ananta, der Sitz des Herrn, ist die unmanifestierte Phase der materiellen Natur; und Sein Lotusthron heißt sattva, die Qualität der Güte, erfüllt von Dharma und Erkenntnis.

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.