Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 37

Gṛhastha-Dharma: How a Householder Attains Liberation by Offering All to Vāsudeva

Devanagari script

पुराण्यनेन सृष्टानि नृतिर्यगृषिदेवता: । शेते जीवेन रूपेण पुरेषु पुरुषो ह्यसौ ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

purāṇy anena sṛṣṭāni nṛ-tiryag-ṛṣi-devatāḥ śete jīvena rūpeṇa pureṣu puruṣo hy asau

Translation

La Personnalité Suprême a créé d’innombrables demeures—les corps des hommes, des animaux, des oiseaux, des sages et des demi-dieux. Dans toutes ces formes, Il réside avec l’âme en tant que Paramātmā; c’est pourquoi on Le nomme puruṣāvatāra.

Synonyms

• पुराणि: cities, bodies (puras)
• पुराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अनेन: by this (one/means)
• अनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सृष्टानि: created
• सृष्टानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु) → सृष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः, कर्मणि; (अत्र ‘पुराणि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• नृ-तिर्यक्-ऋषि-देवताः: humans, animals, sages, and deities
• नृ-तिर्यक्-ऋषि-देवताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक) + तिर्यक् (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (मनुष्याः च तिर्यञ्चः च ऋषयः च देवताः च)

• शेते: lies, rests
• शेते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• जीवेन: as the jīva / by the living entity
• जीवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• रूपेण: in the form
• रूपेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• पुरेषु: in the cities/bodies
• पुरेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• पुरुषः: the Person (Supreme)
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Avadharana (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• असौ: that (he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā (18.61) it is said:

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Lord living within the body?

This verse explains that the Supreme Person creates the bodies of all species and then dwells within them—present as the indwelling reality associated with the living being, residing in the 'city' of the body.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the body as a 'city' (pura)?

Because the body is like a residence with many 'gates' and functions; the jīva lives there while the Supreme Person remains present within, witnessing and sustaining life.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

See every being as inhabited by the Lord’s presence; this fosters humility, nonviolence, and devotion—treating the body as a temporary dwelling and focusing on spiritual practice.