Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 13

Daśa-lakṣaṇam: The Ten Topics, Virāṭ-Puruṣa Sense-Manifestation, and the Supreme Shelter (Āśraya)

Devanagari script

एको नानात्वमन्विच्छन् योगतल्पात् समुत्थित: । वीर्यं हिरण्मयं देवो मायया व्यसृजत् त्रिधा ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

eko nānātvam anvicchan yoga-talpāt samutthitaḥ vīryaṁ hiraṇmayaṁ devo māyayā vyasṛjat tridhā

Translation

The one Lord, resting upon the bed of yoga-slumber, desired to manifest variety; through His external potency (māyā) He emitted the golden puruṣa-seed, unfolding it in three ways.

Synonyms

• एकः: one (alone)
• एकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• नानात्वम्: diversity/multiplicity
• नानात्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नानात्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• अन्विच्छन्: seeking
• अन्विच्छन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + इष् (धातु)
• Form: Present Active Participle (शतृ), Masculine Nominative Singular; Parasmaipada; ‘seeking’

• योगतल्पात्: from the couch of yoga
• योगतल्पात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + तल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• समुत्थितः: arisen
• समुत्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उत् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: Past Active Participle (क्त), Masculine Nominative Singular; ‘having arisen’

• वीर्यम्: seed/potency
• वीर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• हिरण्मयम्: golden
• हिरण्मयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिरण्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with वीर्यम्

• देवः: the Lord
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मायया: by (His) māyā
• मायया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• व्यसृजत्: created/emitted
• व्यसृजत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• त्रिधा: threefold
• त्रिधा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘in three ways’

Purport

In the Bhagavad-gītā (9.7-8) the creation and annihilation of the material world are stated as follows:

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• The Supreme Lord (Bhagavān)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the One becoming many?

This verse states that the Supreme Lord remains one, yet wills the manifestation of diversity, projecting creation through His māyā without compromising His transcendental oneness.

Why is the Lord described as rising from yogic slumber (yoga-talpāt)?

It indicates the cosmic phase where, after dissolution, the Lord initiates creation again—appearing to ‘awaken’ for līlā, while remaining eternally conscious and supreme.

Practical application of understanding māyā and divine oneness in modern life?

Seeing variety as the Lord’s energy helps reduce envy and fragmentation, encouraging humility and devotion—recognizing unity behind differences while living responsibly in the world.