Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 28

Kūrma Supports Mandara; Hālahala Appears; Śiva Becomes Nīlakaṇṭha

Devanagari script

कुक्षि: समुद्रा गिरयोऽस्थिसङ्घा रोमाणि सर्वौषधिवीरुधस्ते । छन्दांसि साक्षात् तव सप्त धातव- स्त्रयीमयात्मन् हृदयं सर्वधर्म: ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

kukṣiḥ samudrā girayo ’sthi-saṅghā romāṇi sarvauṣadhi-vīrudhas te chandāṁsi sākṣāt tava sapta dhātavas trayī-mayātman hṛdayaṁ sarva-dharmaḥ

Translation

ข้าแต่พระผู้เป็นเจ้า พระองค์ทรงเป็นตรีเวทผู้มีชีวิต มหาสมุทรทั้งเจ็ดคือพระอุทร ภูเขาทั้งหลายคือกระดูกของพระองค์ สมุนไพร เถาวัลย์ และพืชพรรณทั้งปวงคือขนกายของพระองค์ ฉันท์เวทเช่นคายตรีประหนึ่งธาตุทั้งเจ็ดแห่งพระวรกาย และระเบียบธรรมตามพระเวทคือแก่นแห่งพระหฤทัย

Synonyms

• कुक्षिः: belly; womb
• कुक्षिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; predicate set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति

• समुद्राः: oceans
• समुद्राः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; predicate set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति

• गिरयः: mountains
• गिरयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; predicate set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति

• अस्थि-सङ्घाः: heaps/collections of bones
• अस्थि-सङ्घाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; predicate set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अस्थीनां सङ्घाः = collections of bones)

• रोमाणि: hairs
• रोमाणि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; predicate set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; here प्रथमा (predicate)

• सर्व-औषधि-वीरुधः: all herbs and plants
• सर्व-औषधि-वीरुधः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; predicate set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + औषधि (प्रातिपदिक) + वीरुध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (औषधयः च वीरुधः च) with सर्व- as qualifier

• ते: your
• ते: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive singular)

• छन्दांसि: Vedic metres/hymns
• छन्दांसि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; predicate set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; here प्रथमा (predicate)

• साक्षात्: directly; manifestly
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• तव: your
• तव: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive singular)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत्; here qualifying 'धातवः'

• धातवः: elements; constituents
• धातवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; predicate set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति

• त्रयी-मय: O one consisting of the Vedic triad
• त्रयी-मय: सम्बोधन-विशेषण (Vocative epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रयी (प्रातिपदिक) + मयट्-प्रत्ययान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति; मयट् (made of/consisting of) with षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (त्रय्याः मयः)

• आत्मन्: O Self
• आत्मन्: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative singular)

• हृदयम्: heart
• हृदयम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; predicate set)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; here प्रथमा (predicate)

• सर्व-धर्मः: all dharma; embodiment of righteousness
• सर्व-धर्मः: विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भावः (सर्वः धर्मः = all dharma / embodiment of dharma)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Lord’s universal form (Viśvarūpa) in Canto 8?

This verse describes the cosmos as the Lord’s body—oceans as His belly, mountains as His bones, plants as His hairs—showing that all creation rests within and upon Him.

Why did the devas offer these prayers to Lord Viṣṇu during the churning of the ocean?

Amid the turmoil of Samudra Manthan, the devas sought Viṣṇu’s shelter and guidance, praising Him as the Vedic source and the foundation of dharma so He would protect and empower their divine work.

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

See the world as sacred and connected to God, and let dharma guide decisions—treat nature and living beings with reverence, and align daily actions with truthfulness, compassion, and responsibility.