Shloka 40

Devanagari script

सृष्ट्वा भूतपिशाचांश्च भगवानात्मतन्द्रिणा । दिग्वाससो मुक्तकेशान् वीक्ष्य चामीलयद् द‍ृशौ ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

sṛṣṭvā bhūta-piśācāṁś ca bhagavān ātma-tandriṇā dig-vāsaso mukta-keśān vīkṣya cāmīlayad dṛśau

Translation

Next the glorious Brahmā, from his own sloth, brought forth ghosts and fiends; but seeing them naked with disheveled hair, he closed his eyes.

Synonyms

• सृष्ट्वा: having created
• सृष्ट्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• भूत-पिशाचान्: bhūtas and piśācas
• भूत-पिशाचान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (copulative), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘bhūtas and piśācas’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

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

• आत्म-तन्द्रिणा: by his own drowsiness
• आत्म-तन्द्रिणा: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + तन्द्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘by (his) own lassitude/drowsiness’

• दिक्-वाससः: naked (clad in directions)
• दिक्-वाससः: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक) + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘clad in the quarters’, i.e., naked)

• मुक्त-केशान्: with loose hair
• मुक्त-केशान्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘having loosened hair’

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अमीलयत्: closed
• अमीलयत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√मील् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• दृशौ: (his) two eyes
• दृशौ: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन

Purport

Ghosts and mischievous hobgoblins are also the creation of Brahmā; they are not false. All of them are meant for putting the conditioned soul into various miseries. They are understood to be the creation of Brahmā under the direction of the Supreme Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Lord Brahmā in creation context)
• Bhūtas
• Piśācas

FAQs

Why did Brahmā (the creator) close his eyes after creating bhūtas and piśācas in Srimad Bhagavatam?

Because those beings manifested in a tamasic, unsettling form—naked and with disheveled hair—and Brahmā, momentarily influenced by the creative inertia (tandrī), withdrew his gaze by closing his eyes.

What are bhūtas and piśācas according to the Bhagavata Purana?

They are categories of subtle, ghostly beings associated with the mode of ignorance (tamas), appearing as part of the graded varieties of creation described in Canto 3.

Practical application: what does this verse teach about dealing with tamas (darkness/ignorance) in modern life?

It suggests discerning withdrawal from degrading influences—choosing not to dwell on what increases tamas—and instead cultivating clarity through sattvic habits, prayer, and devotional remembrance.