Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 41
Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage
शृणोति य इमं स्फोटं सुप्तश्रोत्रे च शून्यदृक् । येन वाग् व्यज्यते यस्य व्यक्तिराकाश आत्मन: ॥ ४० ॥ स्वधाम्नो ब्राह्मण: साक्षाद् वाचक: परमात्मन: । स सर्वमन्त्रोपनिषद्वेदबीजं सनातनम् ॥ ४१ ॥
śṛṇoti ya imaṁ sphoṭaṁ supta-śrotre ca śūnya-dṛk yena vāg vyajyate yasya vyaktir ākāśa ātmanaḥ
Cet oṁkāra est la désignation directe du Paramātmā dans Sa propre demeure. Il est l’essence secrète et la semence éternelle de tous les mantras, des Upaniṣads et des Vedas.
The senses of a sleeping person do not function until he has awakened. Therefore, when a sleeping person is awakened by a noise, one may ask, “Who heard the noise?” The words supta-śrotre in this verse indicate that the Supreme Lord within the heart hears the sound and awakens the sleeping living entities. The Lord’s sensory activities always function on a superior level. Ultimately, all sounds vibrate within the sky, and in the internal region of the heart there is a type of sky meant for the vibration of Vedic sounds. The seed, or source, of all Vedic sounds is the oṁkāra. This is confirmed by the Vedic statement om ity etad brahmaṇo nediṣṭhaṁ nāma. The full elaboration of the Vedic seed sound is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the greatest Vedic literature.
FAQs
This verse points to sphoṭa as the subtle, revealing principle behind audible sound—through which speech becomes manifest and by which deeper reality can be indicated.
Because the Self’s manifestation is described as all-pervading and subtle like space—present everywhere, yet not grasped by gross senses.
Approach mantra and śāstra-listening (śravaṇam) with attention and purity, understanding that sacred sound can awaken insight beyond ordinary sensory limitations.