Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 1

Daśa-lakṣaṇam: The Ten Topics, Virāṭ-Puruṣa Sense-Manifestation, and the Supreme Shelter (Āśraya)

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच अत्र सर्गो विसर्गश्च स्थानं पोषणमूतय: । मन्वन्तरेशानुकथा निरोधो मुक्तिराश्रय: ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca atra sargo visargaś ca sthānaṁ poṣaṇam ūtayaḥ manvantareśānukathā nirodho muktir āśrayaḥ

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī sprach: Im Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam werden zehn Themen dargelegt: sarga und visarga, die Ordnung der Welten, der Schutz des Herrn, die Antriebe des Handelns (ūti), die Manvantaras, die Erzählungen vom Herrn, die Auflösung (nirodha), die Befreiung (mukti) und āśraya, das höchste Gut.

Synonyms

• श्रीशुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्रीशुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (श्रीमान् शुकः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• सर्गः: creation
• सर्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विसर्गः: secondary creation
• विसर्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• स्थानम्: position/abode
• स्थानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पोषणम्: nourishment/protection
• पोषणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पोषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ऊतयः: impulses/activities (motivations)
• ऊतयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मन्वन्तर-ईश-अनुकथाः: accounts of the Lord in the Manvantaras
• मन्वन्तर-ईश-अनुकथाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्वन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुकथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मन्वन्तरे ईशस्य अनुकथाः)

• निरोधः: dissolution/restraint
• निरोधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मुक्तिः: liberation
• मुक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आश्रयः: ultimate shelter
• आश्रयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī

FAQs

What are the ten topics (daśa-lakṣaṇa) of the Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse lists them: sarga (creation), visarga (secondary creation), sthāna (cosmic situation), poṣaṇa (the Lord’s protection), ūtayaḥ (living beings’ impulses/endeavors), manvantara (Manu periods), īśānukathā (narrations of the Lord), nirodha (dissolution), mukti (liberation), and āśraya (the Supreme Shelter).

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the ten topics of the Bhagavatam to Parīkṣit Mahārāja?

He summarizes the Bhāgavatam’s structure and purpose so the listener can understand that all discussions—cosmology, history, and teachings—ultimately lead to āśraya, the Supreme Lord, the final shelter of all.

How can the teaching of ‘āśraya’ be applied in modern life?

By making Bhagavān the central refuge—aligning decisions, fears, and hopes with devotion—one gains clarity amid change (creation and dissolution) and steadily progresses toward liberation and inner steadiness.