Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 30

Kūrma Supports Mandara; Hālahala Appears; Śiva Becomes Nīlakaṇṭha

Devanagari script

छाया त्वधर्मोर्मिषु यैर्विसर्गो नेत्रत्रयं सत्त्वरजस्तमांसि । साङ्ख्यात्मन: शास्त्रकृतस्तवेक्षा छन्दोमयो देव ऋषि: पुराण: ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

chāyā tv adharmormiṣu yair visargo netra-trayaṁ sattva-rajas-tamāṁsi sāṅkhyātmanaḥ śāstra-kṛtas tavekṣā chandomayo deva ṛṣiḥ purāṇaḥ

Translation

O Lord, Your shadow is perceived amid the waves of adharma, from which arise many kinds of irreligious creations. Sattva, rajas, and tamas are Your three eyes. All Vedic literatures, filled with sacred meters, emanate from Your glance, for the sages composed the śāstras after receiving Your merciful look.

Synonyms

• छाया: shadow
• छाया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• अधर्म-ऊर्मिषु: in the waves of unrighteousness
• अधर्म-ऊर्मिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (adharmasya ūrmayaḥ)

• यैः: by which/with which
• यैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विसर्गः: creation/emission
• विसर्गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नेत्र-त्रयम्: the triad of eyes (three eyes)
• नेत्र-त्रयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समासः (three eyes)

• सत्त्व-रजस्-तमांसि: sattva, rajas, and tamas
• सत्त्व-रजस्-तमांसि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (the three guṇas)

• साङ्ख्य-आत्मनः: of the Sāṅkhya-natured one / of Sāṅkhya (as essence)
• साङ्ख्य-आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साङ्ख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (sāṅkhyasya ātmā)

• शास्त्र-कृतः: made/produced by scripture
• शास्त्र-कृतः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP: कृत), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); शास्त्रेण कृतः (instrumental-tatpurusha sense)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• ईक्षा: glance/vision
• ईक्षा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• छन्दः-मयः: consisting of Vedic metres
• छन्दः-मयः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); मयट्-अर्थे तत्पुरुषः (consisting of Vedic metres)

• देव: O god
• देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ऋषिः: sage
• ऋषिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुराणः: the Purāṇa (ancient lore)
• पुराणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the three modes (sattva, rajas, tamas)?

This verse identifies the Lord’s “three eyes” with the three guṇas—goodness, passion, and ignorance—showing that the modes operate under His supreme supervision.

Why do the Devas describe Vishnu as ‘chandomaya’ (made of Vedic metres)?

They praise Him as the very foundation of Vedic revelation—its metres, hymns, and sacred sound—indicating that the Vedas ultimately point to and rest upon Him.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

See the guṇas influencing your mind and habits, but remember they are not ultimate; cultivate sattva through devotion and discipline, and seek shelter of the Lord who stands beyond all modes.