Shloka 29

The Universal Form (Virāṭ-Puruṣa): The Lord’s Entry into the Elements, the Devas, and the Origin of Varṇāśrama

Devanagari script

तार्तीयेन स्वभावेन भगवन्नाभिमाश्रिता: । उभयोरन्तरं व्योम ये रुद्रपार्षदां गणा: ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

tārtīyena svabhāvena bhagavan-nābhim āśritāḥ ubhayor antaraṁ vyoma ye rudra-pārṣadāṁ gaṇāḥ

Translation

Living beings who are associates of Rudra develop in the third mode, ignorance (tamas). Taking shelter of the Lord’s navel, they are situated in the sky between the earthly and heavenly planets.

Synonyms

• तार्तीयेन: by the third (nature)
• तार्तीयेन: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तार्तीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; ‘third’ (pertaining to the third)

• स्वभावेन: by nature
• स्वभावेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• भगवत्-नाभिम्: the Lord’s navel
• भगवत्-नाभिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘भगवतः नाभिः’ = the Lord’s navel)

• आश्रिताः: having taken refuge in, resorting to
• आश्रिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; used predicatively ‘having resorted to’

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), द्विवचन

• अन्तरम्: the interval, the space between
• अन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘intermediate space’

• व्योम: the sky/space
• व्योम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; relative pronoun

• रुद्र-पार्षदानाम्: of Rudra’s attendants
• रुद्र-पार्षदानाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पार्षद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘रुद्रस्य पार्षदाः’ = attendants of Rudra)

• गणाः: groups, hosts
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Purport

This middle portion of the sky is called Bhuvarloka, as confirmed by both Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī and Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī. In Bhagavad-gītā it is stated that those who develop in the mode of passion are situated in the middle region. Those who are situated in the mode of goodness are promoted to the regions of the demigods, those who are situated in the mode of passion are placed in human society, and those who are situated in the mode of ignorance are placed in the society of animals or ghosts. There are no contradictions in this conclusion. Numerous living entities are distributed all over the universe in different planets and are so situated in terms of their own qualities in the modes of material nature.

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)
• Rudra (Śiva)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 6 say about Rudra’s attendants (gaṇas)?

It describes a class of beings—Rudra’s gaṇas—who, by their innate nature, take shelter of the Lord’s navel and reside in the intermediate expanse of the sky (vyoma).

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention the Lord’s navel in the context of creation?

Because the Bhagavatam presents creation as emerging from the Supreme Lord’s universal form; the navel is a key locus in this description, associated with beings and realms manifesting in ordered stages.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

It reinforces that all beings and their positions ultimately depend on the Supreme Lord; remembering this nurtures humility and steadiness in bhakti amid life’s different “levels” and conditions.