Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 10

Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Māyā, Cosmic Dissolution, Guru-Śaraṇāgati, Bhakti, and Deity Worship

Devanagari script

पातालतलमारभ्य सङ्कर्षणमुखानल: । दहन्नूर्ध्वशिखो विष्वग्वर्धते वायुनेरित: ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

pātāla-talam ārabhya saṅkarṣaṇa-mukhānalaḥ dahann ūrdhva-śikho viṣvag vardhate vāyuneritaḥ

Translation

À partir de Pātālaloka, un feu jaillit de la bouche du Seigneur Saṅkarṣaṇa. Poussé par de grands vents, ses flammes montent vers le haut et consument tout en tous sens.

Synonyms

• पाताल-तलम्: the surface/region of Pātāla (netherworld)
• पाताल-तलम्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative; here as starting-point with ārabhya), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पातालस्य तलम्)

• आरभ्य: starting from
• आरभ्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + रभ् (धातु)
• Form: अव्यय, क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive used adverbially): ‘starting from’

• सङ्कर्षण-मुख-अनलः: the fire from Saṅkarṣaṇa’s mouth
• सङ्कर्षण-मुख-अनलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्कर्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (सङ्कर्षणस्य मुखे अनलः)

• दहन्: burning
• दहन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ऊर्ध्व-शिखः: with flames rising upward
• ऊर्ध्व-शिखः: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शिख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (ऊर्ध्वा शिखा यस्य)

• विष्वक्: in all directions, everywhere
• विष्वक्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विष्वक् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वर्धते: grows, increases
• वर्धते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• वायुना: by the wind
• वायुना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• ईरितः: impelled, fanned
• ईरितः: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईर् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (सङ्कर्षण-मुख-अनलः) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Characters & Entities

• Saṅkarṣaṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the fire of dissolution (pralaya-agni)?

This verse describes a cosmic fire beginning from Pātāla and issuing from Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, spreading everywhere with upward flames, driven by wind—an image of the universe being consumed at dissolution.

Why is Saṅkarṣaṇa mentioned in connection with pralaya in the Bhagavatam?

Saṅkarṣaṇa is a divine expansion associated with the cosmic foundation; the verse portrays the dissolution fire as arising from Him, emphasizing that even cosmic destruction proceeds under the Lord’s supreme control.

Practical application of this pralaya teaching in modern life?

Remembering that even the cosmos is temporary helps cultivate detachment and urgency for bhakti—investing one’s life in devotion to the eternal Lord rather than in fleeting material arrangements.