Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

आतपत्रं तु वैकुण्ठं द्विजा धामाकुतोभयम् । त्रिवृद्‌वेद: सुपर्णाख्यो यज्ञं वहति पूरुषम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

ātapatraṁ tu vaikuṇṭhaṁ dvijā dhāmākuto-bhayam tri-vṛd vedaḥ suparṇākhyo yajñaṁ vahati pūruṣam

Translation

O Brāhmaṇas, der Schirm des Herrn ist Seine geistige Wohnstatt Vaikuṇṭha, wo es keine Furcht gibt; und Suparṇa Garuḍa, der den Yajña‑Puruṣa trägt, ist die Verkörperung der dreifachen Veden.

Synonyms

• आतपत्रम्: parasol, umbrella
• आतपत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-nominative (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतपत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as predicate-nominative (समानााधिकरण)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/विरोधार्थक-अन्वय (particle: but/indeed)

• वैकुण्ठम्: Vaikuṇṭha (the supreme abode)
• वैकुण्ठम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-nominative (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकुण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; predicate/apposition to ātapatram

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थक/सम्बोधन-प्राय (addressing the brāhmaṇas)

• धाम: abode, splendor
• धाम: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-nominative (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; predicate/apposition

• अकुतोभयम्: fearless from every side; free from fear
• अकुतोभयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकुतोभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास (अकुतः + भयम् → ‘यस्य कुतोऽपि भयम् न अस्ति’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies dhāma/vaikuṇṭham

• त्रिवृत्: threefold
• त्रिवृत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिवृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; adjective to vedaḥ; ‘threefold’

• वेदः: the Veda
• वेदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; subject of vahati

• सुपर्णाख्यः: named ‘Suparṇa’
• सुपर्णाख्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुपर्ण + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (सुपर्ण-आख्य = ‘सुपर्ण इति आख्यः/नाम’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies vedaḥ

• यज्ञम्: the sacrifice
• यज्ञम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; object of vahati

• वहति: carries, bears
• वहति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• पूरुषम्: the Puruṣa (cosmic person)
• पूरुषम्: Karma (कर्म) / Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; in apposition to yajñam (yajña as the Puruṣa)

Characters & Entities

• Vaikuṇṭha
• Garuḍa (Suparṇa)
• Pūruṣa (Supreme Person, Viṣṇu)
• Yajña

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vaikuntha being fearless (akutobhaya)?

This verse identifies Vaikuṇṭha as the Lord’s own abode and describes it as akutobhaya—completely free from fear—indicating that shelter in the Lord’s realm (and by extension, in devotion to Him) is beyond material anxiety.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Garuḍa as the threefold Veda (trivṛd-veda)?

Śukadeva presents Garuḍa (Suparṇa) as embodying Vedic revelation and service to the Lord—showing that the Vedas ultimately support and ‘carry’ the Supreme Person by glorifying Him as the goal of all knowledge.

Practical application of this verse in modern life—how can it help reduce fear?

By remembering that real fearlessness comes from taking shelter of the Supreme Lord (Yajña/Pūruṣa) and aligning one’s life with dharma and devotion, a devotee cultivates inner steadiness amid uncertainty.