Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

य इदं कल्य उत्थाय महापुरुषलक्षणम् । तच्चित्त: प्रयतो जप्‍त्वा ब्रह्म वेद गुहाशयम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

ya idaṁ kalya utthāya mahā-puruṣa-lakṣaṇam tac-cittaḥ prayato japtvā brahma veda guhāśayam

Translation

Wer am frühen Morgen aufsteht und, mit gereinigtem Geist auf den Mahāpuruṣa ausgerichtet, diese Beschreibung Seiner Merkmale still rezitiert, erkennt das höchste Brahman, das in der Herzenshöhle wohnt.

Synonyms

• yaḥ: he who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचकः सापेक्ष-प्रयोगः (relative pronoun)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपदम्

• kalye: in the morning
• kalye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kalya (अव्यय/कालवाचक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• utthāya: having risen
• utthāya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); धातु: उत् + √स्था; पूर्वक्रिया (having risen)

• mahā-puruṣa-lakṣaṇam: the characteristics of the Mahāpuruṣa
• mahā-puruṣa-lakṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महापुरुषस्य लक्षणम्)

• tat-cittaḥ: whose mind is fixed on That
• tat-cittaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (तस्मिन् चित्तं यस्य)

• prayataḥ: disciplined
• prayataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-yat (धातु) → prayata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत (past passive participle sense as adjective); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘संयतः/नियतः’ (disciplined)

• japtvā: having chanted
• japtvā: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); √जप्; पूर्वक्रिया (having recited)

• brahma: the Veda / sacred formula
• brahma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपदम्

• veda: knows
• veda: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• guhāśayam: the One dwelling in the cave (heart)
• guhāśayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhā (प्रातिपदिक) + āśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गुहायाम् आशयः/स्थितिः)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about chanting in the early morning (brahma-muhūrta)?

This verse teaches that rising early and chanting with a focused, disciplined mind leads to realization of the Absolute Truth dwelling within the heart.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize reciting the Mahāpuruṣa-lakṣaṇa?

Because meditating on and chanting the Lord’s divine characteristics fixes the mind on Him and awakens direct inner realization of Brahman, the indwelling Supreme.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Set a consistent early-morning routine, chant or recite a short Bhagavatam passage attentively, and cultivate focus and self-restraint to deepen inner clarity and devotion.