Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 22

Kriyā-yoga, the Virāṭ-Puruṣa Mapping, and the Sun-God’s Monthly Expansions

Devanagari script

स विश्वस्तैजस: प्राज्ञस्तुरीय इति वृत्तिभि: । अर्थेन्द्रियाशयज्ञानैर्भगवान् परिभाव्यते ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

sa viśvas taijasaḥ prājñas turīya iti vṛttibhiḥ arthendriyāśaya-jñānair bhagavān paribhāvyate

Translation

بھگوان کو بیداری (وِشْو)، خواب (تَیجَس) اور گہری نیند (پراج्ञ) کی وِرتّیوں کے طور پر—جو بالترتیب بیرونی اشیا، من اور مادی بُدھی کے ذریعے کام کرتی ہیں—اور نیز چوتھی، ماورائی حالتِ شعور (تُریہ) کے طور پر بھی سمجھا جا سکتا ہے جو خالص معرفت سے متصف ہے۔

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; refers to Bhagavān

• विश्वः: Viśva (waking-state self)
• विश्वः: Predicate-nominative (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate/appellation (one of the states)

• तैजसः: Taijasa (dream-state self)
• तैजसः: Predicate-nominative (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तैजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate/appellation

• प्राज्ञः: Prājña (deep-sleep-state self)
• प्राज्ञः: Predicate-nominative (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate/appellation

• तुरीयः: Turīya (the fourth)
• तुरीयः: Predicate-nominative (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुरीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate/appellation

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणार्थक (thus)

• वृत्तिभिः: by the modes/functions
• वृत्तिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental): by means of functions/modes

• अर्थेन्द्रियाशयज्ञानैः: by objects, senses, mental dispositions, and cognitions
• अर्थेन्द्रियाशयज्ञानैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ + इन्द्रिय + आशय + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (अर्थ + इन्द्रिय + आशय + ज्ञान); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-प्राय), तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental: by objects, senses, mind/abode, and cognitions

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; subject of paribhāvyate

• परिभाव्यते: is contemplated/understood
• परिभाव्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): is contemplated/realized

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the four states of consciousness (waking, dream, deep sleep, turīya)?

This verse states that Bhagavān can be contemplated through the functions of consciousness as viśva (waking), taijasa (dream), prājña (deep sleep), and turīya (the transcendental fourth), indicating His presence as the underlying reality beyond changing mental states.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe viśva, taijasa, prājña, and turīya to King Parīkṣit?

In Canto 12’s concluding teachings, Śukadeva explains how the Lord is realized as the basis of experience itself—helping Parīkṣit fix his mind on Bhagavān through discriminating the workings of perception, mind, and consciousness.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Observe your waking, dreaming, and deep-sleep experiences and recognize that awareness itself is sustained by the Supreme; then channel that insight into steady remembrance and devotion, rather than identifying fully with shifting thoughts and impressions.