Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 33

Vidura’s Questions on Devotion and Sarga; Maitreya Begins the Account of Creation

Devanagari script

कालमायांशयोगेन भगवद्वीक्षितं नभ: । नभसोऽनुसृतं स्पर्शं विकुर्वन्निर्ममेऽनिलम् ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

kāla-māyāṁśa-yogena bhagavad-vīkṣitaṁ nabhaḥ nabhaso ’nusṛtaṁ sparśaṁ vikurvan nirmame ’nilam

Translation

Daraufhin blickte der Bhagavān auf den Äther, teils vermischt mit ewiger Zeit und äußerer Energie; so entstand die Tanmātra des Berührens, und aus ihrer Wandlung ging die Luft (Vāyu) hervor.

Synonyms

• kāla-māyā-aṁśa-yogena: by the conjunction of time and a portion of māyā
• kāla-māyā-aṁśa-yogena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + aṁśa (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana; samāsa: tatpuruṣa ‘kālasya māyāyāḥ aṁśasya yogaḥ’

• bhagavat-vīkṣitam: seen/glanced at by the Lord
• bhagavat-vīkṣitam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक) + √īkṣ (ईक्ष्, धातु) → vīkṣita (कृदन्त, past passive participle)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana; kṛdanta: kta (PPP) ‘vīkṣita’; samāsa: tatpuruṣa ‘bhagavatā vīkṣitam’

• nabhaḥ: ether (space)
• nabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana

• nabhasaḥ: from ether
• nabhasaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana

• anusṛtam: that followed/ensued
• anusṛtam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-√sṛ (सृ, धातु) → anusṛta (कृदन्त, past passive participle)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana; kṛdanta: kta (PPP)

• sparśam: touch
• sparśam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sparśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

• vikurvan: transforming
• vikurvan: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√kṛ (कृ, धातु) → vikurvat (कृदन्त, present active participle)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana; kṛdanta: śatṛ (present active participle)

• nirmame: created, produced
• nirmame: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√mā (मा, धातु)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (Imperfect/Past), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• anilam: wind, air
• anilam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

Purport

All material creations take place from subtle to gross. The entire universe has developed in that manner. From the sky developed the touch sensation, which is a mixture of eternal time, the external energy and the glance of the Personality of Godhead. The touch sensation developed into the air in the sky. Similarly, all other gross matter also developed from subtle to gross: sound developed into sky, touch developed into air, form developed into fire, taste developed into water, and smell developed into earth.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the creation of air (vāyu)?

This verse explains that when ether (ākāśa) is activated by time and the Lord’s māyā, and is glanced upon by Bhagavān, it transforms so that the quality of touch appears—resulting in the manifestation of air (vāyu).

Why does the Bhagavatam mention the Lord’s glance in the creation process?

The Lord’s glance signifies divine supervision and empowerment: material nature does not evolve independently; it transforms and produces elements only when directed by Bhagavān through kāla (time) and māyā (His external energy).

Practical application of this creation teaching in modern life?

It encourages seeing the world as purposeful and governed—cultivating humility and devotion by recognizing that even subtle forces like time and nature operate under the Supreme Lord’s guidance.