Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 10

Transmission of Bhāgavata Wisdom and Brahmā’s Vision of the Supreme Lord on Ananta

Devanagari script

उदाप्लुतं विश्वमिदं तदासीद् यन्निद्रयामीलितद‍ृङ् न्यमीलयत् । अहीन्द्रतल्पेऽधिशयान एक: कृतक्षण: स्वात्मरतौ निरीह: ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

udāplutaṁ viśvam idaṁ tadāsīd yan nidrayāmīlita-dṛṅ nyamīlayat ahīndra-talpe ’dhiśayāna ekaḥ kṛta-kṣaṇaḥ svātma-ratau nirīhaḥ

Translation

En ce temps-là, les trois mondes étaient submergés par les eaux. Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu demeurait seul, étendu sur la couche d’Ananta, le grand serpent; bien qu’il semblât sommeiller dans sa puissance interne, affranchi de l’action de l’énergie externe, ses yeux n’étaient pas entièrement clos.

Synonyms

• उदाप्लुतम्: flooded, inundated
• उदाप्लुतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + आप्लुत (प्रातिपदिक; आप्लु/प्लु धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (flooded)

• विश्वम्: the universe
• विश्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (this)

• तत्: then/at that time
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (correlative particle)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• निद्रया: by sleep
• निद्रया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; (by sleep)

• आमीलित-दृक्: with eyes closed
• आमीलित-दृक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + मील् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + दृश्/दृक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारयवत्: ‘आमीलिता दृक् यस्य’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (having closed eyes)

• न्य्-अमीलयत्: closed (them)
• न्य्-अमीलयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + मील् (धातु, णिजन्त)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अहीन्द्र-तल्पे: on the serpent-king’s couch
• अहीन्द्र-तल्पे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहीन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + तल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अहीन्द्रस्य तल्पः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अधिशयानः: lying upon
• अधिशयानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि + शी (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), परस्मैपदी-धातु; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एकः: alone, one
• एकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कृत-क्षणः: having measured time
• कृत-क्षणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु + क्त) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कृतः क्षणः यस्य/कृतक्षणः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (having made/marked time; having a fixed moment)

• स्वात्म-रतौ: in delight in his own self
• स्वात्म-रतौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (स्वात्मनि रतिः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• निरीहः: effortless, inactive
• निरीहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरीह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Purport

The Lord is eternally enjoying transcendental bliss by His internal potency, whereas the external potency is suspended during the time of the dissolution of the cosmic manifestation.

Characters & Entities

• Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu
• Ananta Śeṣa (Ahīndra)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vishnu’s yoga-nidra?

This verse explains that when the Lord withdraws into yogic sleep and closes His eyes, the universe is seen as inundated—signaling a phase of cosmic dissolution and rest before creation proceeds again.

Why is Vishnu described as lying on Ananta Shesha in Canto 3?

Śukadeva describes the Lord resting on Ananta, the serpent-king, to show His supreme independence and the cosmic foundation of creation—He remains steady, supported by Ananta, while the material universe is in a dormant state.

Practical application of being 'self-satisfied' (svātma-rati) in modern life?

The verse points to inner fulfillment: cultivate spiritual practice (bhakti, japa, meditation on the Lord) so peace is not dependent on external circumstances, reducing restless over-effort and anxiety.