Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 35

The First Step in God Realization: The Glory of Hearing and the Virāṭ-Rūpa Meditation

Devanagari script

विज्ञानशक्तिं महिमामनन्ति सर्वात्मनोऽन्त:करणं गिरित्रम् । अश्वाश्वतर्युष्ट्रगजा नखानि सर्वे मृगा: पशव: श्रोणिदेशे ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

vijñāna-śaktiṁ mahim āmananti sarvātmano ’ntaḥ-karaṇaṁ giritram aśvāśvatary-uṣṭra-gajā nakhāni sarve mṛgāḥ paśavaḥ śroṇi-deśe

Translation

Nach den Weisen ist die Mahat-tattva die Bewusstseinskraft (vijñāna-śakti) des allgegenwärtigen Herrn, und Giritra (Rudradeva) ist Sein Ego. Pferd, Maultier, Kamel und Elefant sind Seine Nägel, und die wilden Tiere sowie alle Vierfüßer befinden sich in der Gürtelzone des Herrn.

Synonyms

• विज्ञानशक्तिम्: the power of cognition
• विज्ञानशक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञान + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘विज्ञान-शक्ति’ = ‘power of knowledge’

• महिमाम्: greatness
• महिमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आमनन्ति: they consider/declare
• आमनन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु; आ + √मन्)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपद

• सर्वात्मनः: of the all-soul (Lord)
• सर्वात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय ‘सर्व-आत्मन्’ = ‘whose self is all / the all-self’

• अन्तःकरणम्: the inner organ (mind-complex)
• अन्तःकरणम्: Karma/Adheya (कर्म/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तः + करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc., 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष ‘अन्तः-करण’ = ‘inner instrument’

• गिरित्रम्: Giritra (Śiva)
• गिरित्रम्: Karma/Adheya (कर्म/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + त्र (प्रातिपदिक; epithet of Śiva)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc., 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष ‘गिरि-त्र’ (traditional epithet)

• अश्व: horses
• अश्व: Karta/Adheya (कर्ता/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural) [in list-compound sense]

• अश्वतरी: mules
• अश्वतरी: Karta/Adheya (कर्ता/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वतरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural) [in list-compound sense]

• उष्ट्र: camels
• उष्ट्र: Karta/Adheya (कर्ता/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural) [in list-compound sense]

• गजाः: elephants
• गजाः: Karta/Adheya (कर्ता/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नखानि: nails/hooves
• नखानि: Karta/Adheya (कर्ता/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मृगाः: wild animals
• मृगाः: Karta/Adheya (कर्ता/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पशवः: beasts/cattle
• पशवः: Karta/Adheya (कर्ता/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• श्रोणिदेशे: in the hip-region
• श्रोणिदेशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोणि + देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative, 7th), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘श्रोणि-देश’ = ‘region of the hips/loins’

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Giritra)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about meditating on the Virat Rupa (universal form)?

This verse continues the Virāṭ-rūpa meditation by assigning aspects of the cosmos and living beings to the Lord’s universal body, helping the mind become fixed on the Supreme through a structured contemplation.

Why is Shiva (Giritra) described as the 'inner instrument' of the Supreme in this verse?

In the Virāṭ-rūpa mapping, exalted deities are presented as empowered presiding principles within the universal form; here Śiva is identified with the function of the antaḥkaraṇa to show that even the greatest devas operate within the Supreme Lord’s cosmic manifestation.

Practical application of Virat Rupa meditation in modern life?

When the mind feels scattered, contemplate that all powers, beings, and functions belong to the Supreme; it reduces ego-centered thinking and supports steadiness in devotion and daily discipline.