Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 12

Puruṣa-sūkta Logic of the Virāṭ: Cosmic Anatomy, Sacrifice, and the Lord’s Transcendence

Devanagari script

धर्मस्य मम तुभ्यं च कुमाराणां भवस्य च । विज्ञानस्य च सत्त्वस्य परस्यात्मा परायणम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

dharmasya mama tubhyaṁ ca kumārāṇāṁ bhavasya ca vijñānasya ca sattvasya parasyātmā parāyaṇam

Translation

那位大人格者的觉知本身，是法（dharma）的依止处——我的、你的、四位童子（库玛罗）以及婆伐（湿婆）的亦然；此觉知亦是真实、善性（sattva）与超越智的归宿。

Synonyms

• धर्मस्य: of dharma
• धर्मस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• मम: my/of me
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कुमाराणाम्: of the Kumāras
• कुमाराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• भवस्य: of Bhava (Śiva)
• भवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विज्ञानस्य: of knowledge/realization
• विज्ञानस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सत्त्वस्य: of goodness/existence
• सत्त्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• परस्य: of the supreme
• परस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implicit noun like 'ब्रह्मणः/परमस्य')

• आत्मा: the Self
• आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• परायणम्: the ultimate refuge/goal
• परायणम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण/predicative complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (predicate-noun: ultimate resort)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Nārada
• Kumāras
• Bhava (Śiva)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say is the ultimate shelter of dharma?

This verse states that the Supreme Self (the Lord/Paramātmā) is the final refuge and ultimate shelter of dharma and all genuine spiritual paths.

Why did Brahmā say this to Nārada in Canto 2 Chapter 6?

Brahmā is clarifying to Nārada that even exalted authorities and paths—Dharma, the Kumāras’ jñāna, and Śiva’s devotion—ultimately culminate in taking shelter of the Supreme Lord.

How can I apply “the Supreme Self is the ultimate refuge” in modern life?

Align duties, learning, and personal growth with remembrance and devotion to the Lord—treating Him as the final aim behind ethics, knowledge, and inner purity.