Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 36

Gṛhastha-Dharma: How a Householder Attains Liberation by Offering All to Vāsudeva

Devanagari script

जीवराशिभिराकीर्ण अण्डकोशाङ्‌घ्रिपो महान् । तन्मूलत्वादच्युतेज्या सर्वजीवात्मतर्पणम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

jīva-rāśibhir ākīrṇa aṇḍa-kośāṅghripo mahān tan-mūlatvād acyutejyā sarva-jīvātma-tarpaṇam

Translation

This universe, crowded with living beings, is like a tree whose root is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Acyuta—Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, by worshiping Kṛṣṇa alone, one worships and satisfies all living entities.

Synonyms

• जीव-राशिभिः: by masses of living beings
• जीव-राशिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक) + राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जीवानां राशयः)

• आकीर्णः: filled, crowded
• आकीर्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ√कॄ (धातु) → आकीर्ण (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः भूतकर्मणि/भावे, विशेषणम्

• अण्ड-कोश-अङ्घ्रिपः: the base/foot of the cosmic egg-shell
• अण्ड-कोश-अङ्घ्रिपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + कोश (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्घ्रिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (अण्डस्य कोशः; तस्य अङ्घ्रिपः = पादः/आधारः)

• महान्: great
• महान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• तत्-मूलत्वात्: because it is the root (of that)
• तत्-मूलत्वात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मूलत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य मूलत्वम्)

• अच्युत-इज्या: worship of Acyuta
• अच्युत-इज्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक) + इज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अच्युतस्य इज्या)

• सर्व-जीव-आत्म-तर्पणम्: the satisfying of the Self of all beings
• सर्व-जीव-आत्म-तर्पणम्: Pratijna/Phala (फल/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + जीव (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + तर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां जीवानां आत्मा; तस्य तर्पणम्)

Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā (10.8) the Lord says:

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Śrī Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about worshiping Acyuta as the root of all duties?

This verse teaches that the universe is like a great tree and Acyuta is its root; therefore worshiping Him is the foundational act that nourishes and satisfies the inner Self (Paramātmā) in all beings.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the universe as a tree filled with living beings?

He uses the tree analogy to show interdependence: when the root is served, every part is sustained—likewise, devotion to Acyuta benefits all living entities because He is the root and indwelling Supersoul.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Prioritize daily devotion—hearing, chanting, prayer, and offering work to the Lord—so that service becomes root-centered; it naturally supports compassion, ethics, and responsibility toward all beings.