Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 25

Sāṅkhya: Categories of the Absolute Truth and the Unfolding of Creation

Tattva-vicāra

Devanagari script

सहस्रशिरसं साक्षाद्यमनन्तं प्रचक्षते । सङ्कर्षणाख्यं पुरुषं भूतेन्द्रियमनोमयम् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

sahasra-śirasaṁ sākṣād yam anantaṁ pracakṣate saṅkarṣaṇākhyaṁ puruṣaṁ bhūtendriya-manomayam

Translation

Celui qu’on proclame être Ananta en personne, aux mille têtes, est le Puruṣa connu sous le nom de Saṅkarṣaṇa ; Il se déploie comme les éléments, les sens et le mental.

Synonyms

• sahasra-śirasam: (him) of a thousand heads
• sahasra-śirasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; bahuvrīhi: 'having a thousand heads'

• sākṣāt: directly
• sākṣāt: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'directly/in person'

• yam: whom
• yam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; relative pronoun

• anantam: endless/infinite
• anantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; agrees with yam/puruṣam

• pracakṣate: they call/declare
• pracakṣate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√cakṣ (चक्ष् धातु) ; pracakṣate
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Plural, Ātmanepada

• saṅkarṣaṇa-ākhyam: named Saṅkarṣaṇa
• saṅkarṣaṇa-ākhyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṅkarṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'named Saṅkarṣaṇa'

• puruṣam: the Person (Puruṣa)
• puruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• bhūta-indriya-mano-mayam: consisting of elements, senses, and mind
• bhūta-indriya-mano-mayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'consisting of elements, senses, and mind'

Characters & Entities

• Ananta
• Saṅkarṣaṇa

FAQs

Who is Ananta mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 26?

This verse identifies Ananta (the thousand-headed limitless Lord) as the Supreme Person known as Saṅkarṣaṇa, a divine expansion connected with the cosmic functions of mind, senses, and elements.

Why does Lord Kapila describe Saṅkarṣaṇa as related to the elements, senses, and mind?

Because Saṅkarṣaṇa is presented as the divine principle underlying and sustaining the material categories—showing that the cosmos and its instruments of perception ultimately rest upon the Supreme.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

It encourages seeing the mind and senses as energies dependent on the Lord, helping one practice self-control and devotion by remembering the divine source behind all experience.