Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 11

Parīkṣit’s Comprehensive Inquiries and the Bhāgavata as Śabda-avatāra

Devanagari script

पुरुषावयवैर्लोका: सपाला: पूर्वकल्पिता: । लोकैरमुष्यावयवा: सपालैरिति शुश्रुम ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

puruṣāvayavair lokāḥ sapālāḥ pūrva-kalpitāḥ lokair amuṣyāvayavāḥ sa-pālair iti śuśruma

Translation

ହେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ! ପୂର୍ବେ କୁହାଯାଇଥିଲା ଯେ ସମସ୍ତ ଲୋକ ନିଜ-ନିଜ ପାଳକ ସହିତ ବିରାଟ୍-ପୁରୁଷଙ୍କ ମହାଦେହର ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଅଙ୍ଗରେ ଅବସ୍ଥିତ। ମୁଁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଶୁଣିଛି ଯେ ଲୋକମାନେ ସେହି ଦେହରେ ଧାରଣା କରାଯାନ୍ତି; କିନ୍ତୁ ତାଙ୍କର ପ୍ରକୃତ ସ୍ଥାନ କ’ଣ? ଦୟାକରି ବ୍ୟାଖ୍ୟା କରନ୍ତୁ।

Synonyms

• पुरुष-अवयवैः: by the limbs of the Puruṣa
• पुरुष-अवयवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + अवयव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुरुषस्य अवयवाः)

• लोकाः: the worlds
• लोकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स-पालाः: with their guardians
• स-पालाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः (सह + पाल) = ‘पालैः सह’ → ‘with guardians’

• पूर्व-कल्पिताः: previously arranged/created
• पूर्व-कल्पिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्पित (कृदन्त, क्त) < √कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः (past passive participle)

• लोकैः: by the worlds
• लोकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अमुष्य-अवयवाः: (are) the limbs of that (Puruṣa)
• अमुष्य-अवयवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमुष्यद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अवयव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अमुष्य = ‘of that (Puruṣa)’ + अवयवाः)

• स-पालैः: together with guardians
• स-पालैः: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः (सह + पाल)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्ति-निपातः (quotative particle)

• शुश्रुम: we have heard
• शुश्रुम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदम्

Characters & Entities

• Virāṭ-Puruṣa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Virat-rupa (universal form) and the lokas?

This verse states that the planetary systems along with their presiding rulers are envisioned as limbs of the Virāṭ-Puruṣa, and that one can also understand His limbs by studying those worlds and their rulers.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the worlds as limbs of the Cosmic Person?

In the context of teaching Parīkṣit Mahārāja meditation on the Lord’s universal form, Śukadeva explains a devotional cosmology where creation is seen as integrated within the Lord’s body, helping the mind fix on Him.

Practical application of seeing the world as the Lord’s limbs in modern life?

It cultivates reverence and responsibility: one learns to see all realms of life as connected to the Divine, reducing exploitation and increasing mindful, devotional living.