Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

आदित्सोरन्नपानानामासन् कुक्ष्यन्त्रनाडय: । नद्य: समुद्राश्च तयोस्तुष्टि: पुष्टिस्तदाश्रये ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

āditsor anna-pānānām āsan kukṣy-antra-nāḍayaḥ nadyaḥ samudrāś ca tayos tuṣṭiḥ puṣṭis tad-āśraye

Translation

ଅନ୍ନ ଓ ପାନୀୟ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବା ଇଚ୍ଛାରୁ ଉଦର, ଆନ୍ତ୍ର ଓ ନାଡୀମାନେ ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ହେଲେ; ନଦୀ ଓ ସମୁଦ୍ର ତାହାଙ୍କର ତୃପ୍ତି ଓ ପୁଷ୍ଟିର ଆଧାର ହେଲେ।

Synonyms

• āditsōḥ: of (him) wishing to take (food/drink)
• āditsōḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dā (धातु)
• Form: Desiderative (सन्नन्त) kṛdanta adjective 'āditsū' (desirous to take/eat), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti, Eka-vacana

• anna-pānānām: of food and drink
• anna-pānānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक) + pāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti, Bahu-vacana; itaretara-dvandva: 'food and drink'

• āsan: were
• āsan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahu-vacana; parasmaipada

• kukṣi-antra-nāḍayaḥ: the belly, intestines, and ducts
• kukṣi-antra-nāḍayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kukṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + antra (प्रातिपदिक) + nāḍī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā-vibhakti, Bahu-vacana; samāhāra/itaretara-dvandva sense: 'belly, intestines, and tubes/ducts'

• nadyaḥ: rivers
• nadyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahu-vacana

• samudrāḥ: oceans
• samudrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahu-vacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• tayoḥ: of those two
• tayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Ṣaṣṭhī/Dvitīyā? here: Ṣaṣṭhī (genitive) / also can be locative dual in some contexts; standard: Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti, Dvi-vacana (द्विवचन)

• tuṣṭiḥ: satisfaction
• tuṣṭiḥ: Karta/Predicative (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tuṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• puṣṭiḥ: nourishment
• puṣṭiḥ: Karta/Predicative (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana

• tat-āśraye: in that support/basis
• tat-āśraye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग? more likely Puṁliṅga/Neuter, Saptamī-vibhakti (सप्तमी, locative), Eka-vacana; used adverbially: 'in/with that support'

Purport

The controlling deities of the intestines are the rivers, and those of the arteries, the seas. Fulfillment of the belly with food and drink is the cause of sustenance, and the metabolism of the food and drink replaces the waste of the bodily energies. Therefore, the body’s health is dependent on healthy actions of the intestines and the arteries. The rivers and the seas, being the controlling deities of the two, keep the intestines and the arteries in healthy order.

Characters & Entities

• Virāṭ Puruṣa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the origin of rivers and oceans?

This verse explains that rivers and oceans manifest in relation to the cosmic body (Virāṭ), arising along with the channels that carry food and drink, and that nourishment and satisfaction are grounded in these waters.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the Virāṭ form to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva teaches Parīkṣit a devotional vision of creation—seeing the universe as connected to the Lord’s cosmic form—so the listener’s mind becomes fixed on the Supreme rather than on separate material elements.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

It encourages seeing nature (water, food systems, rivers, oceans) as sacred and dependent on the Divine, cultivating gratitude, restraint, and devotional remembrance while using necessities like food and water.