Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 14

Daśa-lakṣaṇam: The Ten Topics, Virāṭ-Puruṣa Sense-Manifestation, and the Supreme Shelter (Āśraya)

Devanagari script

अधिदैवमथाध्यात्ममधिभूतमिति प्रभु: । अथैकं पौरुषं वीर्यं त्रिधाभिद्यत तच्छृणु ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

adhidaivam athādhyātmam adhibhūtam iti prabhuḥ athaikaṁ pauruṣaṁ vīryaṁ tridhābhidyata tac chṛṇu

Translation

主的一种普鲁沙威能分为三：主宰界（adhidaiva）、内在灵性界（adhyātma）与物质界（adhibhūta）。且听我说其分判之理。

Synonyms

• अधिदैवम्: the adhideva (presiding deity aspect)
• अधिदैवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि + दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; avyayībhāva compound used as technical category-name

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Discourse particle (अनन्तर/प्रकरण) ‘then/now’

• अध्यात्मम्: the adhyātma (inner/self aspect)
• अध्यात्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; avyayībhāva category-name

• अधिभूतम्: the adhibhūta (elemental aspect)
• अधिभूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधि + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; avyayībhāva category-name

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-marker (इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle ‘then’

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with वीर्यम्

• पौरुषम्: pertaining to the Puruṣa
• पौरुषम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with वीर्यम्

• वीर्यम्: potency/seed
• वीर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• त्रिधा: in three ways
• त्रिधा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘threefold’

• अभिद्यत: was divided
• अभिद्यत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + द्यै/द्युत् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; sense: ‘divided/cleft asunder’ (अभिद्यत्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; refers to the preceding matter

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What do adhidaiva, adhyatma, and adhibhuta mean in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

They are three lenses for understanding the Lord’s presence: adhidaiva as the presiding divine controllers, adhyātma as the indwelling spiritual principle (Supersoul within), and adhibhūta as the Lord’s relation to the manifested material elements and beings.

Why does Shukadeva Goswami explain adhidaiva, adhyatma, and adhibhuta to King Parikshit?

In Canto 2, Chapter 10, Śukadeva is teaching Parīkṣit the Bhagavatam’s core framework (the Purana’s topics). This verse introduces a key philosophical mapping of how the one Supreme Lord is understood across cosmic, internal, and elemental levels.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life as a spiritual practice?

See the divine order in nature and duty (adhidaiva), cultivate inner remembrance of the Lord in the heart (adhyātma), and treat the material world responsibly as the Lord’s energy (adhibhūta)—all of which supports steady bhakti and clarity of purpose.