Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

स्वमेव धिष्ण्यं बहु मानयन्तं यद्वासुदेवाभिधमामनन्ति । प्रत्यग्धृताक्षाम्बुजकोशमीष- दुन्मीलयन्तं विबुधोदयाय ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

svam eva dhiṣṇyaṁ bahu mānayantaṁ yad vāsudevābhidham āmananti pratyag-dhṛtākṣāmbuja-kośam īṣad unmīlayantaṁ vibudhodayāya

Translation

At that time Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, honoring within Himself the Supreme Lord whom the learned acclaim as Vāsudeva, remained absorbed in meditation; yet for the upliftment of the great sages He slightly opened His lotuslike eyes and began to speak.

Synonyms

• स्वम्: one’s own (self)
• स्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक (pronoun)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• धिष्ण्यम्: abode/seat
• धिष्ण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धिष्ण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बहु: greatly/much
• बहु: Visheshana (विशेषण/degree)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial use of adjective)

• मानयन्तम्: honouring/revering
• मानयन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मानय् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि/वस्तुनि विशेषणरूपेण (qualifying the object)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• वासुदेव-अभिधम्: named ‘Vāsudeva’
• वासुदेव-अभिधम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): वासुदेवस्य अभिधा यस्य; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आमनन्ति: they call/declare
• आमनन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्रत्यक्-धृत-अक्ष-अम्बुज-कोशम्: the lotus-bud (sheath) of eyes held turned inward
• प्रत्यक्-धृत-अक्ष-अम्बुज-कोशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्यक् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + धृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक) + कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास-समाहार (determinative chain; मुख्यतः तत्पुरुष): प्रत्यग्धृताक्षस्य अम्बुजकोशः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ईषत्: slightly
• ईषत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ईषत् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• उन्मीलयन्तम्: opening (slightly)
• उन्मीलयन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + मील् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण

• विबुध-उदयाय: for the rise/awakening of the wise (gods)
• विबुध-उदयाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विबुध (प्रातिपदिक) + उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: विबुधानाम् उदयः; चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Vāsudeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Brahmā’s meditation at the start of creation?

This verse depicts Brahmā withdrawing his vision inward like a closed lotus-bud and then slightly opening his eyes—signifying contemplative awakening before engaging in creation.

Why is Brahmā’s lotus-seat called Vāsudeva in Canto 3 Chapter 8?

The verse states that authoritative revelation (āmananti) names that seat ‘Vāsudeva,’ indicating that Brahmā’s very position and power rest upon the Supreme Lord’s presence and support.

Practical application of ‘pratyak’ (turning inward) in modern life?

Before acting, pause to withdraw from distractions, reflect inwardly, and reconnect actions to a higher purpose—mirroring Brahmā’s inward focus prior to outward engagement.