Previous Verse
Next Verse

Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 2

Puruṣa-sūkta Logic of the Virāṭ: Cosmic Anatomy, Sacrifice, and the Lord’s Transcendence

सर्वासूनां च वायोश्च तन्नासे परमायणे । अश्विनोरोषधीनां च घ्राणो मोदप्रमोदयो: ॥ २ ॥

sarvāsūnāṁ ca vāyoś ca tan-nāse paramāyaṇe aśvinor oṣadhīnāṁ ca ghrāṇo moda-pramodayoḥ

Dua lubang hidung-Nya adalah pusat lahirnya prāṇa-vāyu dan segala jenis udara lainnya. Daya penciuman-Nya melahirkan para dewa Aśvinī-kumāra dan berbagai tumbuhan obat; dan energi napas-Nya menimbulkan aneka wewangian.

sarva-asūnāmof all vital airs
sarva-asūnām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootsarva (प्रातिपदिक) + asu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; कर्मधारयः (‘all’ qualifying ‘vital airs’)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चयार्थक)
vāyoḥof air/wind
vāyoḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootvāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चयार्थक)
tat-nāsein his nose
tat-nāse:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + nāsā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘in his nose’)
parama-āyaṇein the supreme abode/seat
parama-āyaṇe:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootparama (प्रातिपदिक) + āyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; कर्मधारयः (‘supreme’ qualifying ‘abode/seat’)
aśvinoḥof the two Aśvins
aśvinoḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootaśvin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual
oṣadhīnāmof herbs/medicinal plants
oṣadhīnām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootoṣadhī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चयार्थक)
ghrāṇaḥthe nose (organ of smell)
ghrāṇaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootghrāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
moda-pramodayoḥof delight and great delight
moda-pramodayoḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootmoda (प्रातिपदिक) + pramoda (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (मोदश्च प्रमोदश्च)
V
Vāyu
A
Aśvinī-kumāras

FAQs

This verse explains that the sense of smell is a potency of the Virāṭ-Puruṣa, and from it manifest the Aśvinī-kumāras, medicinal herbs, and the experiences of pleasure and delight associated with fragrance.

Bhāgavatam uses the Virāṭ-Puruṣa mapping to show that cosmic functions and deities depend on the Supreme Person; the nostrils are described as the ultimate shelter (paramāyaṇa) for prāṇa and Vāyu, emphasizing divine dependence rather than independence.

It encourages seeing even ordinary experiences—like breath, fragrance, and health—as gifts rooted in the Divine, cultivating gratitude, restraint of the senses, and devotion through mindful remembrance of the Lord.