Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 42

Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage

Devanagari script

तस्य ह्यासंस्त्रयो वर्णा अकाराद्या भृगूद्वह । धार्यन्ते यैस्त्रयो भावा गुणनामार्थवृत्तय: ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

tasya hy āsaṁs trayo varṇā a-kārādyā bhṛgūdvaha dhāryante yais trayo bhāvā guṇa-nāmārtha-vṛttayaḥ

Translation

噫，婆利古族之杰！唵显现字母本初三音：阿(A)、乌(U)、牟(M)。凭此三音，诸般三重相得以维系——三德(guṇa)、名号、义旨与诸种作用状态。

Synonyms

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (m/n), षष्ठी (Gen. 6), एकवचन (sg.)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• āsan: were
• āsan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (pl.)

• trayaḥ: three
• trayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (pl.); संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• varṇāḥ: sounds/letters
• varṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (pl.)

• a-kārādyāḥ: beginning with ‘a’
• a-kārādyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kāra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (pl.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (beginning with ‘a’-sound)

• bhṛgūdvaha: O Bhṛgu’s chief
• bhṛgūdvaha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛgu (प्रातिपदिक) + ud-vaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), सम्बोधन (Voc. 8), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (O bearer of Bhṛgu’s line)

• dhāryante: are sustained/held
• dhāryante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (pl.); कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• yaiḥ: by which (by whom)
• yaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), तृतीया (Instr. 3), बहुवचन (pl.)

• trayaḥ: three
• trayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (pl.); संख्याविशेषण

• bhāvāḥ: entities/states
• bhāvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (pl.)

• guṇa-nāma-artha-vṛttayaḥ: functions as qualities, names, and meanings
• guṇa-nāma-artha-vṛttayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa/Predicative (विशेषण/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + nāma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (pl.); समासः—समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (functions as qualities, names, meanings)

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the origin of Sanskrit letters?

This verse states that the three classes of letters—beginning with ‘a’—arise from the Supreme, and through them speech conveys qualities, names, and meanings.

Why does Sūta Gosvāmī address Śaunaka as ‘Bhṛgūdvaha’ in this verse?

Sūta is speaking in the assembly of sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, where Śaunaka—descended from the Bhṛgu lineage—is the leading questioner, so he is respectfully addressed as the foremost of the Bhṛgus.

How can this teaching about sound and meaning be applied in modern spiritual practice?

It supports mindful use of sacred sound—especially mantra and nāma-saṅkīrtana—recognizing speech as a divine potency that can elevate consciousness when used for truthful, devotional expression.