Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 21

Kriyā-yoga, the Virāṭ-Puruṣa Mapping, and the Sun-God’s Monthly Expansions

Devanagari script

वासुदेव: सङ्कर्षण: प्रद्युम्न: पुरुष: स्वयम् । अनिरुद्ध इति ब्रह्मन् मूर्तिव्यूहोऽभिधीयते ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

vāsudevaḥ saṅkarṣaṇaḥ pradyumnaḥ puruṣaḥ svayam aniruddha iti brahman mūrti-vyūho ’bhidhīyate

Translation

Ô brāhmaṇa, Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna et Aniruddha : tels sont les noms du catur-vyūha, les expansions personnelles directes du Puruṣa suprême.

Synonyms

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (कर्ता) / Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; member of list; in apposition to mūrti-vyūhaḥ

• सङ्कर्षणः: Saṅkarṣaṇa
• सङ्कर्षणः: Karta (कर्ता) / Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्कर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; member of list

• प्रद्युम्नः: Pradyumna
• प्रद्युम्नः: Karta (कर्ता) / Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रद्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; member of list

• पुरुषः: Puruṣa
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता) / Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; member of list

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/निपात (emphatic: himself)

• अनिरुद्धः: Aniruddha
• अनिरुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता) / Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिरुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; member of list

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक (quotative: thus)

• ब्रह्मन्: O brāhmaṇa
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; address to a brāhmaṇa/sage

• मूर्तिव्यूहः: the array/emanation of forms
• मूर्तिव्यूहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति + व्यूह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (मूर्तीनां व्यूहः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject of abhidhīyate

• अभिधीयते: is called, is designated
• अभिधीयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-धा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: is called)

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Sankarshana
• Pradyumna
• Aniruddha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Chatur-vyuha (fourfold expansion)?

This verse states that the Supreme Person Himself is described as the fourfold personal expansion—Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha—revealing the Lord’s organized manifestation for divine functions and worship.

Why did Suta Gosvami say this to the sages at Naimisharanya (addressing 'O brahman')?

Suta is summarizing essential Bhagavata theology for the assembled brāhmaṇa sages, identifying the Lord’s principal expansions to clarify Vishnu-tattva and support focused devotion and correct understanding of the Supreme Person.

Practical application of understanding Krishna’s expansions in modern life?

It helps a devotee keep faith centered on one Supreme Lord while appreciating His many forms—strengthening steadiness in worship, reducing confusion about divinity, and deepening bhakti through informed remembrance.