Shloka 36

Bhakti Yoga: The Three Modes of Devotion, Non-Envy, and Time as the Lord

Devanagari script

एतद्भगवतो रूपं ब्रह्मण: परमात्मन: । परं प्रधानं पुरुषं दैवं कर्मविचेष्टितम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

etad bhagavato rūpaṁ brahmaṇaḥ paramātmanaḥ paraṁ pradhānaṁ puruṣaṁ daivaṁ karma-viceṣṭitam

Translation

This is the eternal form of Bhagavān, known as Brahman and Paramātmā. He is the supreme, transcendent Puruṣa, and all His activities are wholly spiritual.

Synonyms

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा) / Dvitīyā (द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• bhagavataḥ: of the Lord
• bhagavataḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (षष्ठी), Ekavacana; genitive

• rūpam: form
• rūpam: Pradhāna-pada (विधेय/प्रातिपदिक-विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; predicate nominative with implied 'asti'

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahman
• brahmaṇaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; genitive

• paramātmanaḥ: of the Supreme Self
• paramātmanaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama-ātman (प्रातिपदिक; परम् + आत्मन्)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; genitive; tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-समास sense: 'supreme self')

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective agreeing with pradhānam/puruṣam/daivam (neuter usage)

• pradhānam: the Pradhāna (primordial matter)
• pradhānam: Pradhāna-pada (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; appositional predicate

• puruṣam: the Person (Puruṣa)
• puruṣam: Viśeṣya/Upapada (विशेष्य/निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (द्वितीया), Ekavacana; in apposition/identification with rūpam (often treated as accusative of specification)

• daivam: divine
• daivam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective used substantively/apposition

• karma-viceṣṭitam: manifested through actions/activities
• karma-viceṣṭitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karma + viceṣṭita (कर्मन् + वि-चेष्टित; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; past passive participle (क्त) from √ceṣṭ (चेष्ट्) with vi-; tatpuruṣa: 'by/with actions' (कर्म-सम्बन्ध)

Purport

In order to distinguish the personality whom the individual soul must approach, it is described herein that this puruṣa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the chief amongst all living entities and is the ultimate form of the impersonal Brahman effulgence and Paramātmā manifestation. Since He is the origin of the Brahman effulgence and Paramātmā manifestation, He is described herewith as the chief personality. It is confirmed in the Kaṭha Upaniṣad, nityo nityānām: there are many eternal living entities, but He is the chief maintainer. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā also, where Lord Kṛṣṇa says, ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavaḥ: “I am the origin of everything, including the Brahman effulgence and Paramātmā manifestation.” His activities are transcendental, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā. Janma karma ca me divyam: the activities and the appearance and disappearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are transcendental; they are not to be considered material. Anyone who knows this fact — that the appearance, disappearance and activities of the Lord are beyond material activities or material conception — is liberated. Yo vetti tattvataḥ/ tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma: such a person, after quitting his body, does not come back again to this material world, but goes to the Supreme Person. It is confirmed here, puruṣaḥ puruṣaṁ vrajet: the living entity goes to the Supreme Personality simply by understanding His transcendental nature and activities.

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devahuti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan?

This verse indicates that the one Supreme Lord is realized as Brahman and Paramātmā, and is also the supreme source behind Pradhāna (material nature) and Puruṣa, governing the unfolding of karma.

Why did Lord Kapila explain Pradhana and Purusha to Devahuti?

Kapila teaches Devahūti how the Lord pervades and directs both spirit and matter—so her devotion becomes grounded in clear understanding of the Lord’s supremacy over nature and karmic action.

Practical application of understanding karma’s divine governance in modern life?

Seeing the Lord as the ultimate regulator of karmic results encourages humility, ethical action, and steadiness in devotion—doing one’s duty while relying on the Supreme rather than anxiety over outcomes.