Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 7

Priyavrata Accepts Kingship by Brahmā’s Instruction; Sapta-dvīpa Formation and Renunciation

Devanagari script

अथ ह भगवानादिदेव एतस्य गुणविसर्गस्य परिबृंहणानुध्यानव्यवसित सकलजगदभिप्राय आत्मयोनिरखिलनिगमनिजगणपरिवेष्टित: स्वभवनादवततार ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

atha ha bhagavān ādi-deva etasya guṇa-visargasya paribṛṁhaṇānudhyāna-vyavasita-sakala-jagad-abhiprāya ātma-yonir akhila-nigama-nija-gaṇa-pariveṣṭitaḥ sva-bhavanād avatatāra.

Translation

Rồi Bhagavān Brahmā, vị thần đầu tiên, người chuyên tâm suy niệm và đảm trách việc mở rộng, sắp đặt công cuộc tạo hóa theo các guṇa, thấu hiểu ý định của toàn vũ trụ; Ngài, đấng tự sinh, được bao quanh bởi các Veda được nhân cách hóa cùng đoàn tùy tùng, đã rời nơi cư ngụ của mình mà giáng xuống.

Synonyms

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• ह: indeed
• ह: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आदि-देवः: the primeval deity
• आदि-देवः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘primeval god’

• एतस्य: of this
• एतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गुण-विसर्गस्य: of the creation/emanation of the guṇas
• गुण-विसर्गस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण + विसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: गुणानां विसर्गः (emanation of modes/creation)

• परिबृंहण-अनुध्यान-व्यवसित-सकल-जगत्-अभिप्रायः: whose resolve/intention for the whole world was fixed (for expansion)
• परिबृंहण-अनुध्यान-व्यवसित-सकल-जगत्-अभिप्रायः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिबृंहण + अनुध्यान + व्यवसित (कृदन्त; वि+अव+√सो/√सद्? ‘to resolve’, क्त) + सकल + जगत् + अभिप्राय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: ‘whose intention regarding the whole world was fixed by contemplation for expansion (of creation)’

• आत्म-योनिः: self-born/self-originating
• आत्म-योनिः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘whose source is Himself’

• अखिल-निगम-निज-गण-परिवेष्टितः: surrounded by His own hosts of all Vedas
• अखिल-निगम-निज-गण-परिवेष्टितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल + निगम + निज + गण + परिवेष्टित (कृदन्त; परि+√वेष्ट् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘surrounded by His own hosts of all Vedic revelations’ (as attendants)

• स्व-भवनात्: from His own abode
• स्व-भवनात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; ‘from His own abode’

• अवततार: descended
• अवततार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव+√तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Purport

Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Self ( ātmā ), is the source of everything, as explained in the Vedānta-sūtra: janmādy asya yataḥ. Because Brahmā was born directly from Lord Viṣṇu, he is called ātma-yoni. He is also called bhagavān, although generally bhagavān refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Viṣṇu or Lord Kṛṣṇa). Sometimes great personalities — such as demigods like Lord Brahmā, Nārada or Lord Śiva — are also addressed as bhagavān because they carry out the purpose of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Brahmā is called bhagavān because he is the secondary creator of this universe. He is always thinking of how to improve the situation of the conditioned souls who have come to the material world to enjoy material activities. For this reason, he disseminates the Vedic knowledge throughout the universe for everyone’s guidance.

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Supreme Lord)
• Brahmā (implied by ātma-yoniḥ)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about why the Supreme Lord descends?

This verse says the original Lord descends from His own abode to strengthen and properly direct the unfolding of creation through the modes of nature, fully knowing the intentions of all beings.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the Lord as surrounded by the Vedas and His associates?

To show that the Lord’s descent is not ordinary: He appears with divine authority (the Vedas) and with His personal entourage, indicating His supreme status and purposeful intervention in cosmic order.

Practical application of the idea that God knows everyone's intentions?

It encourages inner sincerity: spiritual practice in bhakti is most effective when motives are purified, since the Lord responds to genuine intent, not mere external display.