Shloka 38

Devanagari script

प्रहस्य भावगम्भीरं जिघ्रन्त्यात्मानमात्मना । कान्त्या ससर्ज भगवान् गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणान् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

prahasya bhāva-gambhīraṁ jighrantyātmānam ātmanā kāntyā sasarja bhagavān gandharvāpsarasāṁ gaṇān

Translation

With a laugh of profound import, the Lord Brahmā, by his own radiant beauty as though delighting in itself, brought forth the hosts of Gandharvas and Apsarās.

Synonyms

• प्रहस्य: having laughed
• प्रहस्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), परस्मैपदी; अव्ययभावः—‘having laughed’

• भाव-गम्भीरम्: deep in mood
• भाव-गम्भीरम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + गम्भीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘deep in feeling’)

• जिघ्रन्त्या: by smelling
• जिघ्रन्त्या: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √घ्रा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (Present participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘by/with (her) smelling’

• आत्मानम्: the self
• आत्मानम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आत्मना: by himself
• आत्मना: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• कान्त्या: by (his) beauty/splendor
• कान्त्या: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• ससर्ज: created/emitted
• ससर्ज: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गन्धर्व-अप्सरसाम्: of the Gandharvas and Apsarases
• गन्धर्व-अप्सरसाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (copulative), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; ‘of Gandharvas and Apsarases’

• गणान्: groups/hosts
• गणान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

Purport

The musicians in the upper planetary systems are called Gandharvas, and the dancing girls are called Apsarās. After being attacked by the demons and evolving a form of a beautiful woman in the twilight, Brahmā next created Gandharvas and Apsarās. Music and dancing employed in sense gratification are to be accepted as demoniac, but the same music and dancing, when employed in glorifying the Supreme Lord as kīrtana, are transcendental, and they bring about a life completely fit for spiritual enjoyment.

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)
• Gandharvas
• Apsarās

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the origin of Gandharvas and Apsarās?

In Bhagavatam 3.20.38, Śukadeva explains that the Supreme Lord manifests the hosts of Gandharvas and Apsarās through His own radiant potency—indicating their divine origin within the process of universal creation.

Who is speaking Bhagavatam 3.20.38 and to whom is it spoken?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse to King Parīkṣit while describing stages of creation in the Third Canto.

What is a practical lesson from Bhagavatam 3.20.38 for modern life?

The verse highlights that all abilities, beauty, and artistry ultimately arise from the Supreme source; recognizing this cultivates humility and encourages offering one’s talents in service rather than ego.