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Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 4

Puruṣa-sūkta Logic of the Virāṭ: Cosmic Anatomy, Sacrifice, and the Lord’s Transcendence

तद्गात्रं वस्तुसाराणां सौभगस्य च भाजनम् । त्वगस्य स्पर्शवायोश्च सर्वमेधस्य चैव हि ॥ ४ ॥

tad-gātraṁ vastu-sārāṇāṁ saubhagasya ca bhājanam tvag asya sparśa-vāyoś ca sarva-medhasya caiva hi

La surface de Son corps est le terrain où se développent les principes actifs de toute chose et le réceptacle de toute bonne fortune. Sa peau, telle l’air en mouvement, est le centre d’où naissent toutes les sensations de toucher, et le lieu où s’accomplissent toutes sortes de yajñas (sacrifices).

tat-gātramhis body/limb
tat-gātram:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + gātra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘his body/limb’)
vastu-sārāṇāmof the essences of things
vastu-sārāṇām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootvastu (प्रातिपदिक) + sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘of the essences of things’)
saubhagasyaof good fortune/beauty
saubhagasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootsaubhaga (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चयार्थक)
bhājanamthe receptacle/container
bhājanam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbhājana (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate nominative (‘is the receptacle’)
tvakthe skin
tvak:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottvac (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
asyaof him/of this
asya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
sparśa-vāyoḥof touch and air
sparśa-vāyoḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootsparśa (प्रातिपदिक) + vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (as a compound in genitive singular); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (‘touch and air’)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चयार्थक)
sarva-medhasyaof all intelligence
sarva-medhasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootsarva (प्रातिपदिक) + medha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; कर्मधारयः (‘all’ qualifying ‘intelligence/medhā’)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चयार्थक)
evaindeed/just
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormParticle of emphasis (निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक)
hifor/indeed
hi:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
FormParticle; causal/emphatic (हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक)

The air is the moving agent of all the planets, and as such, the generating centers for promotion to the deserving planets, the sacrifices, are His bodily surface and are naturally the origin of all auspicious opportunities.

FAQs

It states that the Lord’s universal body is the container of all essences and auspiciousness, and that His skin is connected with the principle of touch, the element of air, and the foundation of sacrifice.

In the Bhagavatam’s description of cosmic manifestation, sensory principles and gross elements are traced back to the Lord’s universal form; touch and the moving air are presented as arising in relation to His skin.

It trains the mind to see all elements and life-forces as resting in the Lord, encouraging gratitude, reverence for creation, and offering one’s actions as yajña—service and dedication to God.