Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 21

Brahmā’s Creation: The Kumāras, Rudra, the Prajāpatis, and the Manifestation of Vedic Sound

Devanagari script

अथाभिध्यायत: सर्गं दश पुत्रा: प्रजज्ञिरे । भगवच्छक्तियुक्तस्य लोकसन्तानहेतव: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

athābhidhyāyataḥ sargaṁ daśa putrāḥ prajajñire bhagavac-chakti-yuktasya loka-santāna-hetavaḥ

Translation

Puis Brahmā, investi de la śakti du Bhagavān, médita sur la création; pour prolonger les lignées des mondes, il engendra dix fils.

Synonyms

• अथ: then
• अथ: Vakya-upapadaka (वाक्योपपादक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then/now)

• अभिध्यायतः: (he) meditates/was meditating
• अभिध्यायतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; शतृ-सम्भाव्य? (context: ‘while he was meditating’)

• सर्गम्: creation/progeny
• सर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनस्य विशेषण (indeclinable-like numeral used adjectivally)

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्रजज्ञिरे: were born
• प्रजज्ञिरे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• भगवत्-शक्ति-युक्तस्य: of the one endowed with the Lord’s power
• भगवत्-शक्ति-युक्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक-सम्भाव्य (qualifying the progenitor); समासः: भगवत्-शक्ति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + युक्त (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष)

• लोक-सन्तान-हेतवः: causes of the world’s progeny/continuation
• लोक-सन्तान-हेतवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्तान (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः: लोक-सन्तान (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘of the world’s progeny’) + हेतवः (बहुवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam (Canto 3) say about how creation continues through progeny?

This verse explains that when Brahmā contemplated creation, ten sons were born, empowered by the Lord’s potency, and they became instruments for expanding the population of the worlds.

Why are Brahmā’s sons described as empowered with Bhagavān’s śakti?

Because generation and maintenance of universal progeny is not merely biological or mechanical—it proceeds through beings who act as channels of the Supreme Lord’s energy and will.

What is a practical application of this teaching for modern life?

It encourages seeing responsibility, creativity, and leadership as a trust—power is most fruitful when aligned with divine purpose and used for the welfare and continuity of society.