Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 11

Daśa-lakṣaṇam: The Ten Topics, Virāṭ-Puruṣa Sense-Manifestation, and the Supreme Shelter (Āśraya)

Devanagari script

तास्ववात्सीत् स्वसृष्टासु सहस्रंपरिवत्सरान् । तेन नारायणो नाम यदाप: पुरुषोद्भवा: ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

tāsv avātsīt sva-sṛṣṭāsu sahasraṁ parivatsarān tena nārāyaṇo nāma yad āpaḥ puruṣodbhavāḥ

Translation

至上主は自ら創った水の中に千年のあいだ住まわれた。至高のプルシャより生じた水は「ナーラ」と呼ばれ、その水に横たわるゆえに主は「ナーラーヤナ」と称えられる。

Synonyms

• तासु: in those (waters)
• तासु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• अवात्सीत्: dwelt
• अवात्सीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• स्वसृष्टासु: in the self-created (ones)
• स्वसृष्टासु: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + सृष्टा (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √सृज् धातु)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); Past Passive Participle (क्त) used adjectivally; ‘by/for oneself created’

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) (used as numeral)

• परिवत्सरान्: years (cycles of years)
• परिवत्सरान्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• तेन: therefore/by that
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• नाम: by name/namely
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; particle indicating appellation (नाम-शब्दः ‘called/namely’)

• यत्: since/because
• यत्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative particle (यत्) introducing reason/cause (‘since/for’)

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• पुरुषोद्भवाः: arisen from the Puruṣa
• पुरुषोद्भवाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरुष + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with आपः

Characters & Entities

• Nārāyaṇa
• Puruṣa (Supreme Person)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about why the Lord is called Nārāyaṇa?

This verse explains that the Lord is called Nārāyaṇa because He dwells in the primeval waters (nāra), which arise from the Supreme Person, and He is their shelter and source.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing the Lord residing in the waters to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva is teaching Parīkṣit the Bhagavatam’s creation framework—showing that the universe begins from the Lord alone, who first manifests and rests within the causal waters before further creation unfolds.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Remembering that all origins and supports rest in the Supreme helps reduce anxiety and ego, strengthening surrender (śaraṇāgati) and steady devotional focus amid changing circumstances.