Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 16

Brahmā’s Secondary Creation, Kāla (Eternal Time), and the Taxonomy of Species

Devanagari script

भूतसर्गस्तृतीयस्तु तन्मात्रो द्रव्यशक्तिमान् । चतुर्थ ऐन्द्रिय: सर्गो यस्तु ज्ञानक्रियात्मक: ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

bhūta-sargas tṛtīyas tu tan-mātro dravya-śaktimān caturtha aindriyaḥ sargo yas tu jñāna-kriyātmakaḥ

Translation

Ang ikatlong paglikha ay bhūta-sarga: ang tan-mātra na may lakas ng sangkap ang nagiging sanhi ng magagaspang na elemento. Ang ikaapat ay indriya-sarga, ang kapangyarihan ng kaalaman at paggawa.

Synonyms

• भूतसर्गः: the creation of elements/beings
• भूतसर्गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भूतानां सर्गः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तृतीयः: the third
• तृतीयः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of सर्गः)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• तन्मात्रः: consisting of tanmātras (subtle elements)
• तन्मात्रः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of भूतसर्गः/तृतीयः सर्गः)

• द्रव्यशक्तिमान्: possessing material potency
• द्रव्यशक्तिमान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्तिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (द्रव्य-शक्तिः अस्य अस्ति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• चतुर्थः: the fourth
• चतुर्थः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of सर्गः)

• ऐन्द्रियः: sensory (pertaining to the senses)
• ऐन्द्रियः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of सर्गः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्द्रियसम्बन्धी (pertaining to senses)

• सर्गः: creation
• सर्गः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यः: which
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• ज्ञानक्रियात्मकः: having the nature of knowledge and action
• ज्ञानक्रियात्मकः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ज्ञान-क्रिया-आत्मकः = whose nature is knowledge and action); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of सर्गः)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What is bhūta-sarga in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3?

Bhūta-sarga is the third stage of creation, describing the manifestation of the gross elements from the subtle tan-mātras, which carry the potency to become material substance.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the tan-mātras and senses to Mahārāja Parīkṣit?

He is outlining the Bhagavatam’s structured account of creation, helping Parīkṣit understand how the Lord’s material energy unfolds from subtle principles to the senses and elements.

How can the teaching about senses (aindriya-sarga) be applied in modern life?

By recognizing that senses drive both knowledge and action, one can consciously regulate sense engagement and redirect perception and activity toward devotion and self-realization.