Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 53

Sāṅkhya: Categories of the Absolute Truth and the Unfolding of Creation

Tattva-vicāra

Devanagari script

हिरण्मयादण्डकोशादुत्थाय सलिलेशयात् । तमाविश्य महादेवो बहुधा निर्बिभेद खम् ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

hiraṇmayād aṇḍa-kośād utthāya salile śayāt tam āviśya mahā-devo bahudhā nirbibheda kham

Translation

水の上に横たわる黄金の卵殻から、至上主バガヴァーンはヴィラート・プルシャとして現れ、その卵の内に入り、これを多くの区分へと分かたれた。

Synonyms

• hiraṇmayāt: from the golden
• hiraṇmayāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hiraṇmaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; qualifies aṇḍa-kośāt

• aṇḍa-kośāt: from the egg-shell
• aṇḍa-kośāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + kośa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘shell of the egg’; Masculine, Ablative (5th), Singular

• utthāya: having arisen
• utthāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्) ‘having risen’; indeclinable verbal form

• salile: in the water
• salile: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: salila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• śayāt: from (his) resting place
• śayāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th), Singular; ‘from the lying-place/bed’ (context: from the couch/position in water)

• tam: that (egg)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• āviśya: having entered
• āviśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√viś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्) ‘having entered’

• mahā-devaḥ: the great Lord (Mahādeva)
• mahā-devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘great god’; Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• bahudhā: in many ways
• bahudhā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahudhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• nirbibheda: split; pierced
• nirbibheda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir√bhid (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• kham: space; sky
• kham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Mahādeva (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the golden cosmic egg (Hiraṇyagarbha)?

This verse describes the universe as a golden ‘egg’ (aṇḍa-kośa) resting on the waters, from which the Supreme Lord rises and then enters to begin differentiating creation—starting with the division of space.

Why does Lord Kapila describe creation to Devahūti in Canto 3 Chapter 26?

Kapila teaches Devahūti Sāṅkhya in a devotional way—explaining how the Lord’s will and entry into creation brings about the elements and cosmic order, helping her gain detachment and realization.

Practical application of this creation teaching in modern life?

It trains the mind to see the world as structured by divine intelligence rather than random chance, encouraging humility, gratitude, and steadiness in bhakti while living within the material cosmos.