Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 43

Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Nārāyaṇa and the Lord’s Empowering Instructions for Creation

Devanagari script

सर्ववेदमयेनेदमात्मनात्मात्मयोनिना । प्रजा: सृज यथापूर्वं याश्च मय्यनुशेरते ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

sarva-veda-mayenedam ātmanātmātma-yoninā prajāḥ sṛja yathā-pūrvaṁ yāś ca mayy anuśerate

Translation

Following My command, now generate the living beings as before, by the power of your complete Vedic wisdom and by the body you have received directly from Me, the supreme cause of all.

Synonyms

• सर्व-वेद-मयेन: by/with that which is made of all the Vedas
• सर्व-वेद-मयेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष ‘consisting of all the Vedas’ (सर्वेषां वेदानां मयः)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; here accusative object of (implied) ‘know/see’ or linked with instrument; contextually ‘this (universe)’

• आत्मना: by the self
• आत्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental ‘by oneself/with the self’

• आत्म-आत्म-योनिना: by the self-originating one (born from the Self)
• आत्म-आत्म-योनिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘whose source is the Self’ / ‘self-born from the Self’ (आत्मनः आत्मा योनिः)

• प्रजाः: progeny/creatures
• प्रजाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; accusative plural

• सृज: create
• सृज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘create!’

• यथा-पूर्वम्: as before
• यथा-पूर्वम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समास; अव्यय ‘as before/according to former (order)’

• याः: which (those)
• याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; relative pronoun ‘which’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• मयि: in Me
• मयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative

• अनुशेरते: rest upon/are dependent (on)
• अनुशेरते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-शी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; ‘lie/follow/are dependent’

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa)
• Brahmā

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 3.9.43 say about creation after dissolution (pralaya)?

It explains that the Lord empowers Brahmā to recreate beings “as before,” including those living entities who remain latent within the Supreme during dissolution.

Why does Lord Viṣṇu tell Brahmā to create the prajās (progeny) again?

Because Brahmā is the secondary creator in the universe; after receiving the Lord’s vision and guidance, he is instructed to resume the cosmic creation according to the prior arrangement.

How can this verse be applied in modern spiritual life?

It teaches dependence on divine empowerment: like Brahmā, one should act in one’s duties with humility, seeking the Lord’s guidance and aligning actions with śāstra (Vedic wisdom).