Shloka 8

Brahmā’s Day, the Four Pralayas, and the Supreme Shelter Beyond Cause–Effect

Devanagari script

सामुद्रं दैहिकं भौमं रसं सांवर्तको रवि: । रश्मिभि: पिबते घोरै: सर्वं नैव विमुञ्चति ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

sāmudraṁ daihikaṁ bhaumaṁ rasaṁ sāṁvartako raviḥ raśmibhiḥ pibate ghoraiḥ sarvaṁ naiva vimuñcati

Translation

滅尽の相を現した太陽は、恐るべき光線で海の水も、生き物の体液も、大地の潤いもすべて飲み尽くす。だがその代わりに雨を一滴も与えない。

Synonyms

• sāmudram: oceanic
• sāmudram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāmudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘समुद्रसम्बन्धि’

• daihikam: bodily
• daihikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daihika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘देहसम्बन्धि’

• bhaumam: terrestrial
• bhaumam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhauma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘भूमिसम्बन्धि’

• rasam: sap, essence, moisture
• rasam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• sāṁvartakaḥ: (the) world-ending (at dissolution)
• sāṁvartakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāṁvartaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• raviḥ: the sun
• raviḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ravi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• raśmibhiḥ: with rays
• raśmibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raśmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• pibate: drinks
• pibate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (पा धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• ghoraiḥ: terrible
• ghoraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; qualifies raśmibhiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘भयानकैः’

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• eva: at all/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• vimuñcati: releases, lets go
• vimuñcati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-muc (विमुच् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Sāṁvartaka sun during pralaya?

This verse says that during dissolution the Sāṁvartaka sun, with fierce rays, drinks up all moisture from oceans, bodies, and the earth, leaving nothing behind.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the sun drinking all moisture in Bhagavatam 12.4?

He is explaining the stages of pralaya to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, showing how the cosmos is withdrawn by divine arrangement and why the material world is ultimately temporary.

How can Bhagavatam 12.4.8 be applied in modern life?

It encourages vairāgya (detachment): since even the oceans and bodily vitality are taken away in time, one should invest life in bhakti and remembrance of the Supreme rather than clinging to impermanent possessions.