Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 8

Brahmā’s Secondary Creation, Kāla (Eternal Time), and the Taxonomy of Species

Devanagari script

पद्मकोशं तदाविश्य भगवत्कर्मचोदित: । एकं व्यभाङ्‌क्षीदुरुधा त्रिधा भाव्यं द्विसप्तधा ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

padma-kośaṁ tadāviśya bhagavat-karma-coditaḥ ekaṁ vyabhāṅkṣīd urudhā tridhā bhāvyaṁ dvi-saptadhā

Translation

Urged on by the Lord’s divine work, Brahmā entered the lotus-whorl, and as it expanded throughout the universe he divided it first into three realms and later into fourteen divisions.

Synonyms

• padma-kośam: the lotus-whorl
• padma-kośam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + kośa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): 'of the lotus' + 'sheath'; Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालाव्यय)

• āviśya: having entered
• āviśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā√viś (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्यय-कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), indeclinable; 'having entered'

• bhagavat-karma-coditaḥ: impelled by the Lord’s activity
• bhagavat-karma-coditaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक) + karma (प्रातिपदिक) + codita (√cud + kta, कृत्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain: bhagavataḥ karmaṇā coditaḥ ('impelled by the Lord's act'); Pumliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; qualifying implied subject (Brahmā)

• ekam: one
• ekam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; qualifying bhāvyam

• vyabhāṅkṣīt: he divided
• vyabhāṅkṣīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi+abhi√aṅkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada; intensive/causative not intended; meaning 'he divided/partitioned'

• urudhā: in many ways
• urudhā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: urudhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकाराव्यय) = 'in many ways'

• tridhā: threefold
• tridhā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tridhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Numeral adverb (संख्याव्यय) = 'threefold'

• bhāvyam: the to-be-created (creation)
• bhāvyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √bhū (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: Gerundive/Future passive participle (यत्), Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; 'that which is to be (made)'

• dvi-saptadhā: fourteenfold
• dvi-saptadhā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक) + saptadhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Dvigu-based numeral adverb: 'two times sevenfold' = 'into fourteen ways'

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Bhagavān (Lord Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 say about the fourteen worlds (lokas)?

This verse states that Brahmā, empowered by the Lord, divides creation into fourteen divisions—understood as the fourteen planetary systems (two sets of seven lokas).

Why does Brahmā enter the lotus (padmakośa) in Bhagavatam 3.10?

Brahmā enters the lotus-whorl to begin secondary creation, acting under the impetus of Bhagavān’s creative will rather than independently.

Practical application: what does 'creation is guided by Bhagavān' mean for modern life?

It encourages humility and devotion—recognizing that intelligence and achievement are most fruitful when aligned with divine purpose and higher dharma.