Shloka 32

Secondary Creation Begins: Brahmā’s Productions, the Guṇas, and the Emergence of Orders of Beings

Devanagari script

अहो रूपमहो धैर्यमहो अस्या नवं वय: । मध्ये कामयमानानामकामेव विसर्पति ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

aho rūpam aho dhairyam aho asyā navaṁ vayaḥ madhye kāmayamānānām akāmeva visarpati

Translation

The demons praised her: “Ah, what beauty! Ah, what steadfast self-control! Ah, what fresh youth!” Though we all burn with longing for her, she moves among us as if utterly free from desire.

Synonyms

• अहो: ah! oh!
• अहो: None (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मयादि-निपात (exclamation/particle)

• रूपम्: beauty, form
• रूपम्: Vakya-artha (वाक्यार्थ/उद्गारविषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अहो: oh!
• अहो: None (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मयादि-निपात (exclamation/particle)

• धैर्यम्: steadfastness, composure
• धैर्यम्: Vakya-artha (वाक्यार्थ/उद्गारविषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अहो: oh!
• अहो: None (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मयादि-निपात (exclamation/particle)

• अस्याः: of her
• अस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नवम्: new, fresh
• नवम्: Vakya-artha (वाक्यार्थ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (वयः)

• वयः: youth, age
• वयः: Vakya-artha (वाक्यार्थ/उद्गारविषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निपातवत्; सप्तमी-अर्थे अव्यय (locative adverb): ‘in the midst’

• कामयमानानाम्: of those who desire
• कामयमानानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कामय् (धातु)
• Form: शानच् (present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘of those desiring’

• अकाम्: undesiring, without lust
• अकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (स्त्रियम् implied)

• इव: as if, like
• इव: None (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• विसर्पति: moves about, glides
• विसर्पति: Vakya-kriya (वाक्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-सृप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Vāk (Sarasvatī)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about lust (kāma) in Canto 3?

This verse highlights how strong lust can arise even among exalted beings when confronted with beauty, and it subtly warns that outward composure can intensify others’ desire rather than calm it.

Why are Brahmā’s sons speaking like this about the maiden?

In the creation context, they witness the newly manifested maiden (Vāk/Sarasvatī) and, overwhelmed by her beauty and poise, express astonishment—showing how kāma can disturb the mind even during sacred cosmic duties.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

It encourages vigilance over the senses: recognize how attraction arises, avoid situations that inflame desire, and cultivate steadiness (dhairya) and purity through disciplined habits and devotion.