Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 22

Vibhūti-yoga in the Bhāgavata: The Lord’s Manifest Opulences and the Discipline of Control

Devanagari script

पुरोधसां वसिष्ठोऽहं ब्रह्मिष्ठानां बृहस्पति: । स्कन्दोऽहं सर्वसेनान्यामग्रण्यां भगवानज: ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

purodhasāṁ vasiṣṭho ’haṁ brahmiṣṭhānāṁ bṛhaspatiḥ skando ’haṁ sarva-senānyām agraṇyāṁ bhagavān ajaḥ

Translation

Parmi les prêtres, Je suis Vasiṣṭha Muni; et parmi les plus élevés dans la culture védique, Je suis Bṛhaspati. Parmi les grands chefs d’armée, Je suis Skanda (Kārtikeya); et parmi ceux qui s’avancent sur les voies supérieures de la vie, Je suis le Bhagavān Aja—Brahmā.

Synonyms

• purodhasām: of the priests
• purodhasām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purodhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vasistha
• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vidheya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• brahmiṣṭhānām: of the knowers of Brahman
• brahmiṣṭhānām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahmiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• bṛhaspatiḥ: Brihaspati
• bṛhaspatiḥ: Vidheya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• skandaḥ: Kartikeya
• skandaḥ: Vidheya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: skanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sarva-senānyām: of all commanders
• sarva-senānyām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva-senānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• agraṇyām: of the leaders
• agraṇyām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agraṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ajaḥ: the Unborn (Brahma)
• ajaḥ: Vidheya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Bṛhaspati
• Skanda (Kārttikeya)
• Aja (the Unborn Lord)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s vibhutis (divine opulences)?

In Canto 11, Chapter 16, Krishna identifies Himself as the supreme excellence within many groups—here, as Vasiṣṭha among priests, Bṛhaspati among Brahman-realized teachers, Skanda among commanders, and as Aja among foremost leaders—showing that all greatness ultimately rests in Him.

Why does Krishna mention Vasiṣṭha, Bṛhaspati, and Skanda in this verse?

Krishna is teaching Uddhava by giving recognizable examples of the highest representatives in key domains—priestly guidance, spiritual wisdom, military command, and leadership—so the listener can perceive the Lord’s presence as the source of all outstanding power and virtue.

How can this Bhagavatam verse be applied in modern life?

See excellence, integrity, and true leadership as reflections of the Divine, and cultivate those qualities in your own role—seeking wise counsel (like a purohita), spiritual intelligence (brahma-niṣṭhā), disciplined strength (senānī), and selfless guidance (agraṇī).