Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 2

The Glories of Lord Ananta (Śeṣa/Saṅkarṣaṇa) and the Cosmic Foundation Beneath Pātāla

Devanagari script

यस्येदं क्षितिमण्डलं भगवतोऽनन्तमूर्ते: सहस्रशिरस एकस्मिन्नेव शीर्षणि ध्रियमाणं सिद्धार्थ इव लक्ष्यते ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

yasyedaṁ kṣiti-maṇḍalaṁ bhagavato ’nanta-mūrteḥ sahasra-śirasa ekasminn eva śīrṣaṇi dhriyamāṇaṁ siddhārtha iva lakṣyate.

Translation

Śukadeva continued: This vast universe rests upon just one of Anantadeva’s thousand hoods, and before that immense hood it appears as tiny as a white mustard seed.

Synonyms

• yasya: of whom
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• idam: this
• idam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; अत्र द्वितीया (kṣiti-maṇḍalam) विशेषण-रूपेण

• kṣiti-maṇḍalam: the earth-sphere (earth-disk)
• kṣiti-maṇḍalam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣiti + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kṣiteḥ maṇḍalam)

• bhagavataḥ: of the Lord
• bhagavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• ananta-mūrteḥ: of the infinite-formed (Ananta)
• ananta-mūrteḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ananta + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (anantā mūrtiḥ)

• sahasra-śirasaḥ: of the thousand-headed one
• sahasra-śirasaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra + śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (yasya sahasraṁ śīrṣāṇi santi) विशेषण (ananta-mūrteḥ)

• ekasmin: on one
• ekasmin: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (śīrṣaṇi)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (restriction/emphasis)

• śīrṣaṇi: on the head
• śīrṣaṇi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śīrṣan/śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• dhriyamāṇam: being held
• dhriyamāṇam: Karma (कर्म/that which is borne)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛ (धातु) + śānac (कृदन्त)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि (present passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (kṣiti-maṇḍalam)

• siddha-arthaḥ: a fulfilled purpose (successful aim)
• siddha-arthaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddha + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (siddho ’rthaḥ)

• iva: as if/like
• iva: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-निपात (comparative particle)

• lakṣyate: is seen/appears
• lakṣyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: lakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān Ananta (Śeṣa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the earth resting on Ananta Shesha?

This verse states that the entire earth-sphere is sustained on only one of Lord Ananta’s thousand heads, highlighting His unlimited power and effortless support of creation.

Why does Shukadeva Gosvami describe Ananta as “siddhārtha” (perfectly fulfilled)?

Because sustaining the cosmos is effortless for Him; even while holding the earth on a single head, He appears complete and self-satisfied, needing nothing to achieve.

Practical application of remembering Ananta Shesha in modern life?

Meditating on Ananta’s steadiness and limitless capacity inspires steadiness in duty, humility before divine power, and faith that the Supreme can uphold what feels impossible to us.