Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 37

Citraketu’s Detachment, Nārada’s Mantra, and the Darśana of Anantadeva

Devanagari script

क्षित्यादिभिरेष किलावृत: सप्तभिर्दशगुणोत्तरैरण्डकोश: । यत्र पतत्यणुकल्प: सहाण्डकोटिकोटिभिस्तदनन्त: ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

kṣity-ādibhir eṣa kilāvṛtaḥ saptabhir daśa-guṇottarair aṇḍa-kośaḥ yatra pataty aṇu-kalpaḥ sahāṇḍa-koṭi-koṭibhis tad anantaḥ

Translation

Mỗi vũ trụ được bao bọc bởi bảy lớp—đất, nước, lửa, gió, hư không, mahat-tattva và ngã chấp—mỗi lớp lớn gấp mười lần lớp trước. Vô số vũ trụ chuyển động trong Ngài như những nguyên tử; vì thế Ngài được gọi là Ananta, Vô Lượng.

Synonyms

• क्षिति-आदिभिः: by earth and the rest (elements)
• क्षिति-आदिभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (क्षिति-आदि)

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• किल: indeed/it is said
• किल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: indeed/it is said)

• आवृतः: is covered/enclosed
• आवृतः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√वृ (वृञ्/धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (covered)

• सप्तभिः: by seven
• सप्तभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषणम्

• दश-गुण-उत्तरैः: each ten times greater
• दश-गुण-उत्तरैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश + गुण + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; ‘दशगुणेन उत्तर’ = each tenfold greater

• अण्ड-कोशः: the cosmic shell (egg-case)
• अण्ड-कोशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्ड + कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• पतति: falls
• पतति: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (पतँ/धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अणु-कल्पः: tiny like an atom
• अणु-कल्पः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अणु + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (‘अणुवत् कल्पः’ = like an atom)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी/Accompaniment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-उपसर्गवत् (with)

• अण्ड-कोटि-कोटिभिः: with crores upon crores of universes
• अण्ड-कोटि-कोटिभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्ड + कोटि + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कोटीनां कोटयः)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; संकेत (that)

• अनन्तः: infinite
• अनन्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तत्)

Purport

The Brahma-saṁhitā (5.48) says:

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the seven coverings of the universe?

This verse states that the universe is covered by seven layers beginning with earth, and each layer is ten times thicker than the previous, forming an egg-like cosmic shell (aṇḍa-kośa).

Who describes the countless universes in Srimad Bhagavatam 6.16.37, and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, emphasizing the limitless nature of creation with innumerable universes.

How can reflecting on Bhagavatam’s vast cosmology help in modern spiritual life?

By seeing the immensity and order of creation, one’s ego and anxieties shrink, supporting humility and steadier devotion to the Supreme Lord who transcends all universes.