Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 12

Paramparā of the Atharva Veda and Purāṇas; Definition of a Purāṇa

Daśa-lakṣaṇam

Devanagari script

पुरुषानुगृहीतानामेतेषां वासनामय: । विसर्गोऽयं समाहारो बीजाद् बीजं चराचरम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

puruṣānugṛhītānām eteṣāṁ vāsanā-mayaḥ visargo ’yaṁ samāhāro bījād bījaṁ carācaram

Translation

次创（visarga）因主的慈恩而得以存在，是众生欲习（vāsanā）的显现汇聚。正如种子生出更多种子，滋长物欲的行为也会生出动与不动的诸类生命。

Synonyms

• पुरुष-अनुगृहीतानाम्: of those favored by the Supreme Person
• पुरुष-अनुगृहीतानाम्: सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुगृहीत (कृदन्त; अनु+ग्रह् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (पुरुषेण अनुगृहीतानाम् = of those favored by the Puruṣa)

• एतेषाम्: of these
• एतेषाम्: सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वासनामयः: consisting of latent impressions (vāsanās)
• वासनामयः: विशेषण (qualifier of विसर्गः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वासना (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वासनया मयः = consisting of impressions)

• विसर्गः: secondary creation
• विसर्गः: Karta/उद्देश्य (प्रथमा-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: विशेषण/निर्देशक (deictic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समाहारः: aggregation/collection
• समाहारः: प्रत्यय/सम्बन्ध (predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्+आ+हृ (धातु) → समाहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बीजात्: from seed
• बीजात्: अपादान (source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बीजम्: seed
• बीजम्: Karma/कर्म (resultant entity)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चर-अचरम्: the moving and the non-moving (all beings)
• चर-अचरम्: विशेषण/सम्बन्ध (qualifier of बीजम् or समाहारः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक) + अचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व/समाहार (moving and non-moving beings)

Purport

Just as a seed grows into a tree that produces thousands of new seeds, material desire develops into fruitive activity that stimulates thousands of new desires within the heart of the conditioned soul. The word puruṣānugṛhītānām indicates that by the mercy of the Supreme Lord one is allowed to desire and act in this world.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about how desires (vasanas) cause rebirth?

This verse explains that secondary creation is “vāsanā-maya”—shaped by the living beings’ latent impressions and desires—so embodied life continues as seed-to-seed succession among moving and nonmoving beings.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe creation as “seed to seed” (bījād bījam)?

He emphasizes continuity and causality in saṁsāra: bodies and circumstances arise from prior causes—previous karmic seeds and desires—producing further seeds in an ongoing chain.

How can I apply this teaching about vasanas in modern life?

By consciously shaping impressions—through sādhana, devotion, and disciplined choices—you reduce desire-driven conditioning that fuels repeated patterns, and redirect the mind toward liberation-oriented remembrance of the Supreme.