Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 22

Nārada’s Protection of Kayādhu and Prahlāda’s Womb-Instructions: Ātma-tattva and the Path of Bhakti

Devanagari script

अष्टौ प्रकृतय: प्रोक्तास्त्रय एव हि तद्गुणा: । विकारा: षोडशाचार्यै: पुमानेक: समन्वयात् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭau prakṛtayaḥ proktās traya eva hi tad-guṇāḥ vikārāḥ ṣoḍaśācāryaiḥ pumān ekaḥ samanvayāt

Translation

As oito energias materiais separadas, os três guṇas e as dezesseis transformações: em meio a tudo isso existe um único puruṣa, a alma individual, como testemunha. Por isso os grandes ācāryas concluíram que o jīva é condicionado por esses elementos materiais.

Synonyms

• aṣṭau: eight
• aṣṭau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (with prakṛtayaḥ)

• prakṛtayaḥ: natures, constituents
• prakṛtayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• proktāḥ: are declared
• proktāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate ‘are said’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु) + pra- उपसर्ग + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) used predicatively; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (agreeing with prakṛtayaḥ)

• trayaḥ: three
• trayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (with guṇāḥ)

• eva: indeed, only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (particle: for/indeed)

• tad-guṇāḥ: its qualities (the guṇas)
• tad-guṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (tasya guṇāḥ = its qualities)

• vikārāḥ: transformations
• vikārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ṣoḍaśa: sixteen
• ṣoḍaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣoḍaśan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे (with vikārāḥ)

• ācāryaiḥ: by the teachers
• ācāryaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Agent-instrument; ‘by teachers’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• pumān: the person (puruṣa)
• pumān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ekaḥ: one
• ekaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (pumān)

• samanvayāt: from synthesis/coordination
• samanvayāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samanvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (ablative of cause: ‘from/through synthesis’)

Purport

As explained in the previous verse, kṣetreṣu deheṣu tathātma-yogair adhyātma-vid brahma-gatiṁ labheta: “A spiritually advanced person can understand how the spiritual particle exists within the body, and thus by cultivating spiritual knowledge he can attain perfection in spiritual life.” The intelligent person who is expert in finding the self within the body must understand the eight external energies, which are listed in Bhagavad-gītā (7.4) :

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the eight elements, three modes, and sixteen transformations?

This verse summarizes a Sāṅkhya-style analysis: eight material elements, governed by three guṇas, expand into sixteen transformations—yet the conscious living being (pumān/jīva) is understood as distinct from these material categories.

Why did Prahlāda Mahārāja describe Sāṅkhya categories to his classmates?

Prahlāda teaches spiritual discrimination: by analyzing matter (prakṛti, guṇas, vikāras), one can recognize the separate identity of the conscious self and turn toward devotion rather than materialistic life.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Use clear discernment: notice how moods and identities shift with the guṇas and circumstances, and remember you are the conscious self beyond them—then choose practices (hearing, chanting, prayer) that strengthen devotion and steadiness.