Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 34

The First Step in God Realization: The Glory of Hearing and the Virāṭ-Rūpa Meditation

Devanagari script

ईशस्य केशान् विदुरम्बुवाहान् वासस्तु सन्ध्यां कुरुवर्य भूम्न: । अव्यक्तमाहुर्हृदयं मनश्च स चन्द्रमा: सर्वविकारकोश: ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

īśasya keśān vidur ambuvāhān vāsas tu sandhyāṁ kuru-varya bhūmnaḥ avyaktam āhur hṛdayaṁ manaś ca sa candramāḥ sarva-vikāra-kośaḥ

Translation

Ô meilleur des Kurus, les nuages porteurs d’eau sont les cheveux de Sa tête; les crépuscules, jonction du jour et de la nuit, sont Son vêtement. La cause non manifestée (avyakta) est Son cœur et Son intelligence, et Son mental est la lune, réservoir de toutes les transformations.

Synonyms

• ईशस्य: of the Lord
• ईशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• केशान्: hairs
• केशान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विदुः: they know/they declare
• विदुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपद

• अम्बुवाहान्: clouds (water-bearers)
• अम्बुवाहान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु + वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘अम्बु-वाह’ = ‘water-carrier’

• वासः: garment/raiment
• वासः: Karta/Adheya (कर्ता/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थ (indeclinable; but/indeed)

• सन्ध्याम्: twilight
• सन्ध्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुरुवर्य: O best of the Kurus
• कुरुवर्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative, 8th), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘कुरु-वर्य’ = ‘best of the Kurus’

• भूम्नः: of the Great One/of the Infinite
• भूम्नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमान्/भूमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अव्यक्तम्: the unmanifest
• अव्यक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अह्/√ब्रू (धातु; आहुः as perfect of √अह्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपद

• हृदयम्: heart
• हृदयम्: Karma/Adheya (कर्म/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc., 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma/Adheya (कर्म/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc., 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ (indeclinable; and)

• सः: he/that (moon)
• सः: Karta/Adheya (कर्ता/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• चन्द्रमाः: the Moon
• चन्द्रमाः: Karta/Adheya (कर्ता/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्रमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वविकारकोशः: the storehouse of all modifications
• सर्वविकारकोशः: Karta/Adheya (कर्ता/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + विकार + कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘सर्व-विकार-कोश’ = ‘repository of all transformations’

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the universal form (Virat Rupa) meditation?

This verse continues the Virāṭ-rūpa mapping, teaching devotees to see natural phenomena—clouds, twilight, mind, and moon—as connected to the Lord’s cosmic body, aiding focused remembrance of Him.

Why did Shukadeva Goswami describe clouds and twilight as parts of the Lord’s body to King Parikshit?

Parīkṣit sought a practical path for God realization; Śukadeva gives a structured meditation where the visible universe becomes a support for concentrating the mind on the Supreme.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life?

While observing nature (clouds, dusk, moonlight), consciously remember the Supreme Lord as the source and controller—turning ordinary perception into devotional meditation.