Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 8

Dhruva-vaṁśa Continuation: Utkala’s Renunciation, Aṅga’s Sacrifice, and the Birth of Vena

Prelude to Pṛthu

Devanagari script

आत्मानं ब्रह्म निर्वाणं प्रत्यस्तमितविग्रहम् । अवबोधरसैकात्म्यमानन्दमनुसन्ततम् ॥ ८ ॥ अव्यवच्छिन्नयोगाग्निदग्धकर्ममलाशय: । स्वरूपमवरुन्धानो नात्मनोऽन्यं तदैक्षत ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

ātmānaṁ brahma-nirvāṇaṁ pratyastamita-vigraham avabodha-rasaikātmyam ānandam anusantatam

Translation

Por la expansión de su conocimiento del Brahman Supremo, logró la liberación del cuerpo. Mediante el fuego del bhakti-yoga, quemó todas las impurezas y solo veía al Señor Supremo.

Synonyms

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्म-निर्वाणम्: liberation in/into Brahman
• ब्रह्म-निर्वाणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्वाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive Tatpurusha): ब्रह्मणः निर्वाणम्

• प्रत्यस्तमित-विग्रहम्: whose bodily form had subsided
• प्रत्यस्तमित-विग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति+अस्तम्+इ (धातु) → प्रत्यस्तमित (कृदन्त/ppp) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहि/विशेषणवत् प्रयोगः—विग्रहः प्रत्यस्तमितः यस्य (whose bodily form has subsided/ceased)

• अवबोध-रस-एकात्म्यम्: oneness with the essence of realization
• अवबोध-रस-एकात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवबोध (प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक) + एकात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः (determinative): अवबोधस्य रसः, तस्य एकात्म्यम्

• आनन्दम्: bliss
• आनन्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनुसन्ततम्: continuous, uninterrupted
• अनुसन्ततम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु+सन्तत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier): निरन्तरम् (continuous)

Purport

These two verses explain the verse in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.54) :

Characters & Entities

• Pṛthu Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Brahman realization and nirvāṇa?

This verse describes nirvāṇa as realizing the self as Brahman—where material identity dissolves and one abides in continuous awareness and bliss.

Why is Pṛthu Mahārāja described as having his material form ‘dissolved’?

Because he entered deep spiritual absorption in which bodily identification and material designations cease, revealing the self’s spiritual nature.

Practical application of ‘unbroken awareness and bliss’ in modern life?

Cultivate steady sādhana—hearing, chanting, and meditation—so the mind becomes less ruled by bodily identity and more anchored in spiritual remembrance.