Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 25

The Lord in the Heart and the Discipline of Yoga-Bhakti

Devanagari script

तद् विश्वनाभिं त्वतिवर्त्य विष्णो- रणीयसा विरजेनात्मनैक: । नमस्कृतं ब्रह्मविदामुपैति कल्पायुषो यद् विबुधा रमन्ते ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

tad viśva-nābhiṁ tv ativartya viṣṇor aṇīyasā virajenātmanaikaḥ namaskṛtaṁ brahma-vidām upaiti kalpāyuṣo yad vibudhā ramante

Translation

此尸舒摩罗（Śiśumāra）乃全宇宙旋转之枢轴，亦称为毗湿奴（Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu）之脐。唯有瑜伽行者能超越此轮，以清净之我抵达为梵知者所礼敬的摩诃界（Maharloka）；彼处如婆利古（Bhṛgu）等清净圣贤享受一劫之寿。

Synonyms

• tat: that (thereafter/that realm)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun); Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/2nd) Ekavacana; here deictic to the next object

• viśva-nābhim: the navel/center of the universe
• viśva-nābhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + nābhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: viśvasya nābhiḥ (genitive-determinative); Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adversative/emphatic particle (तु)

• ativartya: having crossed beyond
• ativartya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati + vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्): -ya; expresses prior action

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (genitive), Ekavacana

• aṇīyasā: by something subtler/smaller
• aṇīyasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṇīyas (प्रातिपदिक; comparative)
• Form: Comparative adjective; Puṁliṅga/Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana; agrees with implied instrument

• virajena: by the stainless/pure
• virajena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viraja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga/Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana; qualifying ātmanā

• ātmanā: by the self
• ātmanā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• ekaḥ: alone
• ekaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; predicate/qualifier of the traveler

• namaskṛtam: the revered/obeisance-worthy (Brahman)
• namaskṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: namas + kṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle; Napumsaka, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana; object of upaiti

• brahma-vidām: of the knowers of Brahman
• brahma-vidām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: brahmaṇaḥ vid (knower of Brahman); Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Bahuvacana (plural)

• upaiti: approaches/attains
• upaiti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa + i (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (present), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• kalpa-āyuṣaḥ: of (their) kalpa-long lifespan
• kalpa-āyuṣaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: kalpasya āyuḥ; Napumsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Ekavacana

• yat: which/that
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun; Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; correlates with tat

• vibudhāḥ: the gods/wise beings
• vibudhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• ramante: delight
• ramante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ram (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (present), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana, Ātmanepada

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Brahmavidaḥ (knowers of Brahman)
• Vibudhāḥ (the enlightened beings)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about transcending the universal form (virat-rupa)?

This verse says the meditator goes beyond the viśvanābhi (universal form) and, by the most subtle and stainless self, attains the revered spiritual state reached by Brahman-knowers.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe a solitary yogī attaining a higher realm in Canto 2 Chapter 2?

Śukadeva is instructing Parīkṣit Mahārāja on the inner path of realization—how refined meditation and purity lead beyond cosmic visualization to the revered goal honored by realized sages.

How can I apply the teaching of a 'spotless, subtle self' in modern life?

Practice daily purification—truthfulness, restraint, and focused remembrance of Viṣṇu—so the mind becomes subtle and clear, making contemplation and devotion steady rather than scattered.