Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 44

Brahmā’s Creation: The Kumāras, Rudra, the Prajāpatis, and the Manifestation of Vedic Sound

Devanagari script

आन्वीक्षिकी त्रयी वार्ता दण्डनीतिस्तथैव च । एवं व्याहृतयश्वासन् प्रणवो ह्यस्य दहृत: ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

ānvīkṣikī trayī vārtā daṇḍa-nītis tathaiva ca evaṁ vyāhṛtayaś cāsan praṇavo hy asya dahrataḥ

Translation

From Brahmā manifested the science of logic (ānvīkṣikī), the Vedic wisdom of the threefold revelation (trayī), vārtā, and dandanīti (law and governance); also the famed utterances bhūḥ, bhuvaḥ, and svaḥ; and from his heart arose the praṇava, Oṁkāra.

Synonyms

• आन्वीक्षिकी: logic/inquiry (ānvīkṣikī)
• आन्वीक्षिकी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आन्वीक्षिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; शास्त्रनाम

• त्रयी: the three Vedas (trayī)
• त्रयी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; वेदत्रयवाचक

• वार्ता: economics/agriculture (vārttā)
• वार्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• दण्ड-नीतिः: politics/governance (daṇḍanīti)
• दण्ड-नीतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + नीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दण्डस्य नीति:)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थक (also/likewise)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (indeed/just)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थक (thus/in this way)

• व्याहृतयः: the sacred utterances (vyāhṛtis)
• व्याहृतयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याहृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• आसन्: were
• आसन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• प्रणवः: the praṇava (Oṁ)
• प्रणवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक (for/indeed)

• अस्य: of him/of this
• अस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दहृतः: dahṛtaḥ (textual form; sense uncertain)
• दहृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दहृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (पाठान्तर/दुर्लभ-रूप; अर्थतः ‘हृदयात्/हृतः’ इत्यादि सन्दिग्ध)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the origin of Om (praṇava)?

This verse states that the praṇava (oṁ) was manifested—drawn forth—from Brahmā, indicating oṁ as a primordial Vedic sound revealed at the dawn of creation.

Why does the Bhagavatam mention ānvīkṣikī, vārtā, and daṇḍa-nīti along with the Vedas?

The verse presents a complete Vedic civilization: spiritual revelation (trayī) supported by inquiry (ānvīkṣikī), righteous livelihood (vārtā), and dharmic governance (daṇḍa-nīti), all arising in the cosmic order connected with Brahmā.

Practical application of daṇḍa-nīti and vārtā in modern life?

Live honestly through productive work (vārtā) and support fair rules and accountability (daṇḍa-nīti), aligning personal ethics and social order with dharma rather than exploitation.