Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

संवर्तको मेघगणो वर्षति स्म शतं समा: । धाराभिर्हस्तिहस्ताभिर्लीयते सलिले विराट् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

saṁvartako megha-gaṇo varṣati sma śataṁ samāḥ dhārābhir hasti-hastābhir līyate salile virāṭ

Translation

Des hordes de nuages appelés Saṁvartaka déversent des pluies torrentielles pendant cent ans. Tombant en nappes longues comme la trompe d’un éléphant, ce déluge submerge l’univers entier sous les eaux.

Synonyms

• संवर्तकः: pertaining to cosmic dissolution (saṁvartaka)
• संवर्तकः: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संवर्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (मेघ-गणः) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मेघ-गणः: a host of clouds
• मेघ-गणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मेघानां गणः)

• वर्षति: rains
• वर्षति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्म: indeed/then (narrative particle)
• स्म: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात; भूतार्थ/अनुस्मरणार्थ-प्रयोगः (often marks past narrative nuance)

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; परिमाण (measure)

• समाः: years
• समाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; (शतम्) इत्यस्य परिमाण-विशेष्य (a hundred years)

• धाराभिः: with streams (of rain)
• धाराभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• हस्ति-हस्ताभिः: like elephants’ trunks
• हस्ति-हस्ताभिः: Viśeṣaṇa of Karaṇa (करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (हस्तिनः हस्त इव)

• लीयते: is dissolved, merges
• लीयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ली (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः (passive sense: ‘is dissolved/merges’)

• सलिले: in water
• सलिले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• विराट्: the Virāṭ (cosmic form)
• विराट्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराज्/विराट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Virāṭ
• Saṁvartaka (clouds)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pralaya (cosmic dissolution)?

This verse describes the Saṁvartaka clouds raining for a hundred years with elephant-trunk-like torrents, by which the vast cosmic manifestation (Virāṭ) becomes inundated and dissolves into the waters—illustrating the inevitable dissolution of the material universe.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the Saṁvartaka clouds and flooding to Parīkṣit Mahārāja?

Śukadeva speaks to awaken deep detachment and spiritual urgency in Parīkṣit, showing that even the entire cosmos is temporary and ultimately dissolves—therefore one should take shelter of the eternal Lord through bhakti.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Remembering the impermanence of all material arrangements helps reduce anxiety and attachment, encouraging one to prioritize devotion, character, and steady spiritual practice over temporary gains.