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Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 65

Sāṅkhya: Categories of the Absolute Truth and the Unfolding of Creation

Tattva-vicāra

त्वचं रोमभिरोषध्यो नोदतिष्ठत्तदा विराट् । रेतसा शिश्नमापस्तु नोदतिष्ठत्तदा विराट् ॥ ६५ ॥

tvacaṁ romabhir oṣadhyo nodatiṣṭhat tadā virāṭ retasā śiśnam āpas tu nodatiṣṭhat tadā virāṭ

Die Gottheiten, die über Haut, Kräuter und Heilpflanzen walten, traten mit den Körperhaaren in die Haut des Virāṭ‑Puruṣa ein, doch das kosmische Wesen erhob sich nicht. Dann trat die Gottheit des Wassers mit der Zeugungskraft in Sein Zeugungsorgan ein, doch auch da stand Er nicht auf.

tvacamthe skin
tvacam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottvac (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
romabhiḥby the hairs
romabhiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootroman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)
oṣadhyaḥthe herbs/plants (deities)
oṣadhyaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootoṣadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध-निपात)
udatiṣṭhatarose/stood up
udatiṣṭhat:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootud-sthā (धातु)
FormLuṅ (लुङ्, Aorist), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
tadāthen
tadā:
Kālādhi karaṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottadā (अव्यय)
FormAdverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)
virāṭthe Virāṭ
virāṭ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvirāj (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
retasāby semen
retasā:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootretas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)
śiśnamthe penis
śiśnam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootśiśna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
āpaḥthe waters (deities)
āpaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootap (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)
tubut/and then
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
FormAdversative/contrast particle (विरोधार्थक-निपात)
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध-निपात)
udatiṣṭhatarose/stood up
udatiṣṭhat:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootud-sthā (धातु)
FormLuṅ (लुङ्, Aorist), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
tadāthen
tadā:
Kālādhi karaṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottadā (अव्यय)
FormAdverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)
virāṭthe Virāṭ
virāṭ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvirāj (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
V
Virāṭ (Universal Form)

FAQs

In this verse, herbs and plants are said to arise from the hairs (roma) of the Virāṭ, the Universal Form, as part of the staged manifestation of the cosmos.

The verse describes correspondences in cosmic creation: the generative organ and semen manifest, and from semen the waters arise—showing how elements unfold from the Virāṭ in Sāṅkhya-style cosmology.

It cultivates reverence: seeing nature (plants, water, the body) as connected to the Lord’s universal manifestation encourages gratitude, purity, and responsible living aligned with dharma.