Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 11

Sāṅkhya of Creation and Annihilation

Sarga–Nirodha-viveka

Devanagari script

सोऽसृजत्तपसा युक्तो रजसा मदनुग्रहात् । लोकान् सपालान् विश्वात्मा भूर्भुवः स्वरिति त्रिधा ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

so ’sṛjat tapasā yukto rajasā mad-anugrahāt lokān sa-pālān viśvātmā bhūr bhuvaḥ svar iti tridhā

Translation

Brahmā, linh hồn của vũ trụ, nhờ ân huệ của Ta mà mang tính rajas, thực hành khổ hạnh lớn lao; rồi tạo ra ba cõi Bhūr, Bhuvar và Svar cùng các vị thần chủ quản của chúng.

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• असृजत्: created
• असृजत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• युक्तः: endowed, joined
• युक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with सः/विश्वात्मा

• रजसा: by rajas (passion)
• रजसा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• मत्: my
• मत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun base (मत्-), used as first member in compound; ‘my’

• अनुग्रहात्: from (my) grace
• अनुग्रहात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• लोकान्: worlds
• लोकान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• सपालान्: with their rulers/guardians
• सपालान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय ‘with’) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayibhava compound (सह पालैः), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifier of लोकान्

• विश्वात्मा: the soul of the universe
• विश्वात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpurusha compound (विश्वस्य आत्मा), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to सः

• भूः: Bhū (earth realm)
• भूः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); name of a world

• भुवः: Bhuvaḥ (mid-region)
• भुवः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवस्/भुवः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); name of a world

• स्वः: Svaḥ (heaven)
• स्वः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्/स्वः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); name of a world

• इति: thus, as
• इति: Prayojaka (उद्धरण/Marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• त्रिधा: in threefold manner
• त्रिधा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava
• Brahmā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Bhūr Bhuvaḥ Svaḥ (the three worlds)?

This verse states that the creator, empowered by the Lord’s grace and the mode of passion, manifests the cosmos in a threefold division—Bhūḥ, Bhuvaḥ, and Svaḥ—along with the presiding rulers of those realms.

Why does Krishna mention rajas (the mode of passion) in the act of creation?

Because rajas is the dynamic, activating mode that drives manifestation and activity; the verse explains that creation proceeds when the creator is empowered by rajas under the Lord’s sanction.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Recognize that power and productivity (rajas) should be guided by higher purpose and divine sanction; channel ambition through discipline (tapas) and service rather than ego-driven action.