Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 14

Transmission of Bhāgavata Wisdom and Brahmā’s Vision of the Supreme Lord on Ananta

Devanagari script

स पद्मकोश: सहसोदतिष्ठत् कालेन कर्मप्रतिबोधनेन । स्वरोचिषा तत्सलिलं विशालं विद्योतयन्नर्क इवात्मयोनि: ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

sa padma-kośaḥ sahasodatiṣṭhat kālena karma-pratibodhanena sva-rociṣā tat salilaṁ viśālaṁ vidyotayann arka ivātma-yoniḥ

Translation

As the total form of the living beings’ karmic results, that lotus-bud suddenly arose; by the supreme will of Lord Viṣṇu it shone like the sun, illuminating all and drying the vast waters of devastation.

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• पद्म-कोशः: the lotus-bud (lotus-calyx)
• पद्म-कोशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): ‘पद्मस्य कोशः’

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• उदतिष्ठत्: arose / stood up
• उदतिष्ठत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: उद्

• कालेन: by time
• कालेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कर्म-प्रतिबोधनेन: by the awakening of activity (impulse to act)
• कर्म-प्रतिबोधनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतिबोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘कर्मणः प्रतिबोधनम्’ (awakening/impulse of action)

• स्व-रोचिषा: with his own radiance
• स्व-रोचिषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रोचिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘स्वा रोचिः’ (one’s own radiance)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative adjective)

• सलिलम्: water
• सलिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विशालम्: vast
• विशालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of सलिलम्)

• विद्योतयन्: illuminating
• विद्योतयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्योतय् (धातु; denominative from विद्योत)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अर्कः: the sun
• अर्कः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-सूचक (particle of comparison)

• आत्म-योनिः: the self-born (Brahmā)
• आत्म-योनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘आत्मनः योनिः’ (self-born / whose source is himself)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the cosmic lotus and creation?

This verse describes the lotus-bud rising from the primordial waters and illuminating them, indicating the beginning of manifest creation as the stage for Brahmā’s appearance and further cosmic development.

Why does the verse mention kāla (time) and karma in the awakening of the lotus?

It teaches that creation unfolds according to the Lord’s orderly system—time initiates transformation, and karma (destiny/ordained activity) becomes the operative impulse for manifestation within the material realm.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Just as creation moves under divine time and lawful order, a devotee can practice patience and steadiness—doing one’s dharma sincerely while trusting that outcomes mature in their proper time.