Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 23

Devahūti’s Prayers, Kapila’s Departure, and Devahūti’s Liberation

Siddhapada

Devanagari script

ध्यायती भगवद्रूपं यदाह ध्यानगोचरम् । सुत: प्रसन्नवदनं समस्तव्यस्तचिन्तया ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

dhyāyatī bhagavad-rūpaṁ yad āha dhyāna-gocaram sutaḥ prasanna-vadanaṁ samasta-vyasta-cintayā

Translation

Ensuite, après avoir écouté avec ardeur et en détail son fils Kapiladeva, la Personnalité divine au sourire éternel, Devahūti se mit à méditer sans cesse sur la forme de Viṣṇu du Seigneur Suprême.

Synonyms

• ध्यायती: she meditates
• ध्यायती: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular

• भगवत्-रूपम्: the Lord’s form
• भगवत्-रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘भगवतः रूपम्’)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; Relative pronoun; here Accusative Singular referring to ‘रूपम्’

• आह: (he) said/declared
• आह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अह्/√ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular; ‘said/declared’

• ध्यान-गोचरम्: accessible to meditation
• ध्यान-गोचरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; समासः तत्पुरुषः (‘ध्यानस्य गोचरः’ = object/range of meditation)

• सुतः: the son
• सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रसन्न-वदनम्: with a serene face
• प्रसन्न-वदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; समासः कर्मधारयः (‘प्रसन्नं वदनं यस्य’)

• समस्त-व्यस्त-चिन्तया: by thinking in both general and particular ways
• समस्त-व्यस्त-चिन्तया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; समासः इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (‘समस्त’ + ‘व्यस्त’), ततः ‘समस्त-व्यस्त’ इति विशेषणपूर्वक ‘चिन्ता’

Characters & Entities

• Devahūti
• Kapila

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about meditating on the form of the Lord (Bhagavān-rūpa)?

This verse describes meditation as fixing the mind on the Lord’s personal form exactly as taught by the guru—holding the whole form and its details steadily in awareness.

Why is Devahūti described as seeing the Lord as her son in Canto 3?

Because Kapila is an avatāra of the Supreme Lord who appeared as Devahūti’s son; her meditation naturally centers on the Lord’s revealed relationship and gentle, serene form.

How can “samasta-vyasta-cintayā” be applied in modern meditation practice?

Meditate on the Lord’s form as a complete presence (samasta) while also calmly attending to specific features (vyasta), helping the mind stay steady rather than scattered.