Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 20

The Universal Form (Virāṭ-Puruṣa): The Lord’s Entry into the Elements, the Devas, and the Origin of Varṇāśrama

Devanagari script

गुदं पुंसो विनिर्भिन्नं मित्रो लोकेश आविशत् । पायुनांशेन येनासौ विसर्गं प्रतिपद्यते ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

gudaṁ puṁso vinirbhinnaṁ mitro lokeśa āviśat pāyunāṁśena yenāsau visargaṁ pratipadyate

Translation

Als der Ausscheidungskanal gesondert hervortrat, trat Mitra, der Weltenherr, mit seinem Sitz in ihn ein. Durch einen Anteil der Ausscheidungskraft können die Wesen Stuhl und Urin abgeben.

Synonyms

• गुदम्: anus/rectum
• गुदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पुंसः: of the person/of the male
• पुंसः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस्/पुम्स् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• विनिर्भिन्नम्: split/opened
• विनिर्भिन्नम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनिर्भिन्न (कृदन्त; √भिद् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• मित्रः: Mitra (deity)
• मित्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• लोकेशः: lord of the worlds
• लोकेशः: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to मित्रः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘लोकस्य ईशः’

• आविशत्: entered
• आविशत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पायुना: by the anus (organ of excretion)
• पायुना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• अंशेन: by a portion
• अंशेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• येन: by which
• येन: Karaṇa (करण) (relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक

• असौ: he
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विसर्गम्: evacuation/excretion
• विसर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रतिपद्यते: attains/experiences
• प्रतिपद्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + √पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Characters & Entities

• Mitra
• Virāṭ-Puruṣa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the presiding deities of the body?

This verse explains that bodily functions are governed by presiding deities; specifically, Mitra enters the anus of the universal form, enabling the function of evacuation in embodied beings.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the universal form’s organs in Canto 3 Chapter 6?

He is describing the Virāṭ-Puruṣa to show how the cosmos and embodied life are organized under divine governance, helping the listener see the body and universe as dependent on the Supreme.

What is the practical application of this teaching in modern life?

It encourages humility and gratitude: even basic bodily processes are not fully under our control, so one should live responsibly, with reverence for the divine order and detachment from bodily pride.