Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 26

Kriyā-yoga, the Virāṭ-Puruṣa Mapping, and the Sun-God’s Monthly Expansions

Devanagari script

य इदं कल्य उत्थाय महापुरुषलक्षणम् । तच्चित्त: प्रयतो जप्‍त्वा ब्रह्म वेद गुहाशयम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

ya idaṁ kalya utthāya mahā-puruṣa-lakṣaṇam tac-cittaḥ prayato japtvā brahma veda guhāśayam

Translation

Whoever rises early in the morning and, with a purified mind fixed upon the Mahāpuruṣa, softly chants this description of His characteristics will realize the Supreme Brahman dwelling within the cave of the heart.

Synonyms

• yaḥ: he who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचकः सापेक्ष-प्रयोगः (relative pronoun)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपदम्

• kalye: in the morning
• kalye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kalya (अव्यय/कालवाचक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• utthāya: having risen
• utthāya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); धातु: उत् + √स्था; पूर्वक्रिया (having risen)

• mahā-puruṣa-lakṣaṇam: the characteristics of the Mahāpuruṣa
• mahā-puruṣa-lakṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महापुरुषस्य लक्षणम्)

• tat-cittaḥ: whose mind is fixed on That
• tat-cittaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (तस्मिन् चित्तं यस्य)

• prayataḥ: disciplined
• prayataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-yat (धातु) → prayata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृत (past passive participle sense as adjective); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘संयतः/नियतः’ (disciplined)

• japtvā: having chanted
• japtvā: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); √जप्; पूर्वक्रिया (having recited)

• brahma: the Veda / sacred formula
• brahma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपदम्

• veda: knows
• veda: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• guhāśayam: the One dwelling in the cave (heart)
• guhāśayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhā (प्रातिपदिक) + āśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गुहायाम् आशयः/स्थितिः)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about chanting in the early morning (brahma-muhūrta)?

This verse teaches that rising early and chanting with a focused, disciplined mind leads to realization of the Absolute Truth dwelling within the heart.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize reciting the Mahāpuruṣa-lakṣaṇa?

Because meditating on and chanting the Lord’s divine characteristics fixes the mind on Him and awakens direct inner realization of Brahman, the indwelling Supreme.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Set a consistent early-morning routine, chant or recite a short Bhagavatam passage attentively, and cultivate focus and self-restraint to deepen inner clarity and devotion.