Shloka 65

Sāṅkhya: Categories of the Absolute Truth and the Unfolding of Creation

Tattva-vicāra

Devanagari script

त्वचं रोमभिरोषध्यो नोदतिष्ठत्तदा विराट् । रेतसा शिश्नमापस्तु नोदतिष्ठत्तदा विराट् ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

tvacaṁ romabhir oṣadhyo nodatiṣṭhat tadā virāṭ retasā śiśnam āpas tu nodatiṣṭhat tadā virāṭ

Translation

The deities presiding over the skin, along with herbs and healing plants, entered the skin of the Virāṭ-Puruṣa with the body’s hair, yet the Cosmic Being would not rise. Then the deity of water entered His generative organ with the power of procreation, yet still He did not stand up.

Synonyms

• tvacam: the skin
• tvacam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvac (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• romabhiḥ: by the hairs
• romabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: roman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• oṣadhyaḥ: the herbs/plants (deities)
• oṣadhyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: oṣadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• udatiṣṭhat: arose/stood up
• udatiṣṭhat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-sthā (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, Aorist), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kālādhi karaṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• virāṭ: the Virāṭ
• virāṭ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: virāj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• retasā: by semen
• retasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: retas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śiśnam: the penis
• śiśnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiśna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āpaḥ: the waters (deities)
• āpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tu: but/and then
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative/contrast particle (विरोधार्थक-निपात)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• udatiṣṭhat: arose/stood up
• udatiṣṭhat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-sthā (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, Aorist), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kālādhi karaṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• virāṭ: the Virāṭ
• virāṭ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: virāj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Virāṭ (Universal Form)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the origin of herbs and plants?

In this verse, herbs and plants are said to arise from the hairs (roma) of the Virāṭ, the Universal Form, as part of the staged manifestation of the cosmos.

Why does Bhagavatam link semen and water in Canto 3 Chapter 26?

The verse describes correspondences in cosmic creation: the generative organ and semen manifest, and from semen the waters arise—showing how elements unfold from the Virāṭ in Sāṅkhya-style cosmology.

How can devotees apply the teaching of Virāṭ creation in modern life?

It cultivates reverence: seeing nature (plants, water, the body) as connected to the Lord’s universal manifestation encourages gratitude, purity, and responsible living aligned with dharma.