Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

तपसा विद्यया युक्तो योगेन सुसमाधिना । ऋषीनृषिर्हृषीकेश: ससर्जाभिमता: प्रजा: ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

tapasā vidyayā yukto yogena susamādhinā ṛṣīn ṛṣir hṛṣīkeśaḥ sasarjābhimatāḥ prajāḥ

Translation

Endowed with austerity, sacred knowledge, yoga, and deep samādhi, and having mastered the senses, Brahmā, the self-born, brought forth the great sages as his beloved progeny.

Synonyms

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विद्यया: by knowledge
• विद्यया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• युक्तः: endowed (with)
• युक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थे: ‘endowed/connected’

• योगेन: by yoga
• योगेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• सु-समाधिना: by perfect concentration
• सु-समाधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + समाधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; उपपद-विशेषण ‘सु-’ = ‘good/perfect’

• ऋषीन्: sages
• ऋषीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• ऋषिः: the sage
• ऋषिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हृषीकेशः: Hṛṣīkeśa (Lord of the senses)
• हृषीकेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीक (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (हृषीकाणाम् ईशः) = ‘Lord of the senses’

• ससर्ज: created
• ससर्ज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: सम्- (sa-)

• अभिमताः: desired; approved
• अभिमताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-मन् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग: अभि-; ‘desired/approved’ (agreeing with ‘prajāḥ’)

• प्रजाः: progeny; creatures
• प्रजाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अत्र कर्म (object of ‘sasarja’)

Purport

The ritualistic performances of sacrifice are meant for material economic development; in other words, they are meant to keep the body in good condition for cultivation of spiritual knowledge. But for actual attainment of spiritual knowledge, other qualifications are needed. What is essential is vidyā, or worship of the Supreme Lord. Sometimes the word yoga is used to refer to the gymnastic performances of different bodily postures which help mental concentration. Generally, the different bodily postures in the yoga system are accepted by less intelligent men to be the end of yoga, but actually they are meant to concentrate the mind upon the Supersoul. After creating persons for economic development, Brahmā created sages who would set the example for spiritual realization.

Characters & Entities

• Hṛṣīkeśa (Lord Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about creation through tapasya and samadhi?

This verse states that the Lord, endowed with austerity, spiritual knowledge, and perfect samādhi, manifests the intended progeny—showing creation as a conscious, yogic act under divine control.

Why is the Lord called Hrisikesha in this verse?

He is called Hṛṣīkeśa, “Lord of the senses,” to emphasize that even the powers involved in creation and the senses of all beings are governed by Him.

Practical application of samadhi and sense-control in modern life according to this shloka?

The verse highlights that focused inner absorption (samādhi) and disciplined living (tapasya) aligned with true knowledge lead to purposeful, constructive outcomes rather than scattered desire-driven actions.