Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 3
The Glories of Lord Ananta (Śeṣa/Saṅkarṣaṇa) and the Cosmic Foundation Beneath Pātāla
यस्य ह वा इदं कालेनोपसञ्जिहीर्षतोऽमर्षविरचितरुचिरभ्रमद्भ्रुवोरन्तरेण साङ्कर्षणो नाम रुद्र एकादशव्यूहस्त्र्यक्षस्त्रिशिखं शूलमुत्तम्भयन्नुदतिष्ठत् ॥ ३ ॥
yasya ha vā idaṁ kālenopasañjihīrṣato ’marṣa-viracita-rucira-bhramad-bhruvor antareṇa sāṅkarṣaṇo nāma rudra ekādaśa-vyūhas try-akṣas tri-śikhaṁ śūlam uttambhayann udatiṣṭhat.
Au temps de la dissolution, lorsque Anantadeva veut anéantir la création entière, une légère colère s’éveille en Lui. Alors, d’entre Ses deux sourcils surgit Rudra, aux trois yeux, brandissant le trident. Ce Rudra, nommé Sāṅkarṣaṇa, est l’incarnation des onze Rudras et apparaît pour dévaster l’univers.
In each creation, the living entities are given a chance to close their business as conditioned souls. When they misuse this opportunity and do not go back home, back to Godhead, Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa becomes angry. The eleven Rudras, expansions of Lord Śiva, come out of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa’s eyebrows due to His angry mood, and all of them together devastate the entire creation.
FAQs
This verse says that when the Lord wills to withdraw the universe through time, Rudra—identified here with Saṅkarṣaṇa—arises from between the Lord’s eyebrows with eleven forms, bearing the trident, to preside over destruction.
The verse links the Rudra principle to Saṅkarṣaṇa, indicating Rudra’s emergence and function in dissolution as empowered by the Lord’s expansion, emphasizing that destruction too operates under the Supreme’s control.
By remembering that time inevitably withdraws all material arrangements, one cultivates detachment and urgency for bhakti—investing life in devotion to the Lord rather than temporary possessions and status.