Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 8

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

Siddhapada

Devanagari script

तं त्वामहं ब्रह्म परं पुमांसं प्रत्यक्स्रोतस्यात्मनि संविभाव्यम् । स्वतेजसा ध्वस्तगुणप्रवाहं वन्दे विष्णुं कपिलं वेदगर्भम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ tvām ahaṁ brahma paraṁ pumāṁsaṁ pratyak-srotasy ātmani saṁvibhāvyam sva-tejasā dhvasta-guṇa-pravāhaṁ vande viṣṇuṁ kapilaṁ veda-garbham

Translation

Je Te reconnais, ô Brahman suprême, comme le Purusha transcendant, contemplé dans l’ātman, au courant retourné vers l’intérieur. Par Ton propre éclat, Tu dissipes le flot des guṇa ; je me prosterne devant Viṣṇu sous le nom de Kapila, Weda-garbha, en qui demeurent les Veda.

Synonyms

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: 2nd person pronoun; Accusative (2nd), Singular

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: 1st person pronoun; Nominative (1st), Singular

• brahma: Brahman (the Absolute)
• brahma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; in apposition to tvām

• param: supreme
• param: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; agrees with brahma

• pumām̐sam: the Person
• pumām̐sam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; in apposition

• pratyak-srotasi: in the inward current (of consciousness)
• pratyak-srotasi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratyak (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + srotas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; karmadhāraya: ‘in the inward-flowing current’

• ātmani: in the Self
• ātmani: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• saṁvibhāvyam: to be contemplated / realizable
• saṁvibhāvyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + vi + bhū (धातु) → vibhāvya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerundive/Potential passive participle (तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थ), Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifies tvām/brahma: ‘to be contemplated/realized’

• sva-tejasā: by (your) own radiance
• sva-tejasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘by one’s own splendor’

• dhvasta-guṇa-pravāham: (you) whose stream of material qualities is destroyed
• dhvasta-guṇa-pravāham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhvasta (कृदन्त; ध्वंस्/ध्वस्) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + pravāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘whose flow of guṇas is destroyed’; qualifies tvām/viṣṇum/kapilam

• vande: I worship / bow to
• vande: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vand (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada, 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular

• viṣṇum: Vishnu
• viṣṇum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• kapilam: Kapila
• kapilam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; apposition to viṣṇum

• veda-garbham: whose essence contains the Veda
• veda-garbham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + garbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; bahuvrīhi: ‘having the Veda in the womb/essence’

Purport

Devahūti, the mother of Kapila, instead of prolonging her prayers, summarized that Lord Kapila was none other than Viṣṇu and that since she was a woman it was not possible for her to worship Him properly simply by prayer. It was her intention that the Lord be satisfied. The word pratyak is significant. In yogic practice, the eight divisions are yama, niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna and samādhi. Pratyāhāra means to wind up the activities of the senses. The level of realization of the Supreme Lord evidenced by Devahūti is possible when one is able to withdraw the senses from material activities. When one is engaged in devotional service, there is no scope for his senses to be engaged otherwise. In such full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can understand the Supreme Lord as He is.

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Vishnu

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about turning consciousness inward for self-realization?

This verse says the Supreme Lord is realized within the self when the “current” of awareness is turned inward (pratyak-srotasi), making inner contemplation the key to direct spiritual realization.

Why does Devahuti offer obeisances to Kapila as Vishnu and Veda-garbha?

Devahuti recognizes Kapila as an incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu and the very source of Vedic wisdom (veda-garbha), because His teachings reveal the truth of the self and the Supreme.

Practical application of overcoming the modes of nature (gunas) in modern life?

Apply inward focus through steady remembrance and devotion to the Lord; the verse emphasizes that divine realization dispels the influence of the gunas, helping one act with clarity rather than being pushed by passion and ignorance.