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Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 21

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

सृती विचक्रमे विश्वङ्‍साशनानशने उभे । यदविद्या च विद्या च पुरुषस्तूभयाश्रय: ॥ २१ ॥

sṛtī vicakrame viśvaṅ sāśanānaśane ubhe yad avidyā ca vidyā ca puruṣas tūbhayāśrayaḥ

ດ້ວຍພະລັງງານຂອງພຣະອົງ ພຣະບຸກຄົນສູງສຸດຜູ້ແຜ່ຊາຍທົ່ວສາກົນ ຄຸ້ມຄອງຢ່າງຄົບຖ້ວນທັງສອງທາງ: ການຄວບຄຸມ ແລະ ການຮັບໃຊ້ດ້ວຍພັກຕິ. ພຣະອົງເປັນຈອມເຈົ້າເໜືອທັງອະວິທະຍາ ແລະ ວິທະຍາ ແລະເປັນທີ່ພຶ່ງຂອງທັງສອງ.

sṛtītwo paths/courses
sṛtī:
Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
TypeNoun
Rootsṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), द्विवचन (Dual)
vicakramestrode forth/expanded
vicakrame:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootvi-√kram (क्रम् धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
viśvamthe universe/everywhere
viśvam:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Extent)
TypeNoun
Rootviśva (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (as adverbial accusative: everywhere/throughout)
sa-āśana-anaśane(paths) with eating and fasting
sa-āśana-anaśane:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of sṛtī)
TypeAdjective
Rootsa (प्रातिपदिक/उपसर्गार्थ) + āśana (प्रातिपदिक) + anaśana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (āśana + anaśana) with सहार्थ (sa-)
ubheboth
ubhe:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of sṛtī)
TypeAdjective
Rootubha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन
yatwhich
yat:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject; correlating with avidyā/vidyā)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम (relative)
avidyāignorance
avidyā:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject; one of the pair)
TypeNoun
Roota- (नञ्) + vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)
vidyāknowledge
vidyā:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject; one of the pair)
TypeNoun
Rootvidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)
puruṣaḥthe Person (Supreme)
puruṣaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootpuruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
tuindeed/but
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विशेषार्थक/विरोधार्थक (particle)
ubhayāśrayaḥthe support of both
ubhayāśrayaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of puruṣaḥ)
TypeAdjective
Rootubhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (ubhayayoḥ āśrayaḥ: support of both)

The word viśvaṅ is significant in this verse. One who travels perfectly in every field of activity is called the puruṣa or kṣetrajña. These two terms, kṣetrajña and puruṣa, are equally applicable to both the individual self and the Supreme Self, the Lord. In the Bhagavad-gītā (13.3) the matter is explained as follows:

P
Puruṣa (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

This verse says that both ignorance (avidyā) and knowledge (vidyā) function under the Supreme Puruṣa, who is the ultimate shelter and controller of both within the universe.

In explaining the Lord’s universal arrangement, Śukadeva shows that worldly engagement and restraint are both accommodated in creation, yet both remain dependent on the Supreme Person, pointing the listener toward His supremacy beyond all dualities.

Recognize that both material pursuits and disciplined renunciation are limited without spiritual shelter; use your chosen path to cultivate devotion and clarity, seeing the Lord as the ultimate source and goal.