Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 26

Brahmā’s Tapasya, the Vision of Vaikuṇṭha, and the Lord’s Seed Instructions

Catuḥ-śloki

Devanagari script

तथापि नाथमानस्य नाथ नाथय नाथितम् । परावरे यथा रूपे जानीयां ते त्वरूपिण: ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

tathāpi nāthamānasya nātha nāthaya nāthitam parāvare yathā rūpe jānīyāṁ te tv arūpiṇaḥ

Translation

尽管如此，主啊，仍请成就我心之所愿。愿你开示：你安住于超越之身，本无世间形相，却如何在世间示现种种形相？

Synonyms

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• अपि: even, nevertheless
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• नाथमानस्य: of (me) seeking a lord/protector
• नाथमानस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाथमान (कृदन्त; √नाथ् + शानच्/मान; present participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle); ‘seeking a protector’

• नाथ: O Lord
• नाथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• नाथय: protect / be the lord of
• नाथय: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नाथ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• नाथितम्: the one who seeks protection (me) / the protected one
• नाथितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √नाथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘that which is to be protected/has sought protection’

• पर-अवरे: in the higher and the lower (aspects)
• पर-अवरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + अवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः (परं च अवरं च)

• यथा: as, in the manner that
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/adverb: ‘as, in what manner’)

• रूपे: in (your) form
• रूपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• जानीयाम्: may I know
• जानीयाम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• अरूपिणः: of you who are formless
• अरूपिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation; qualifies ‘ते’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सम्बोधनार्थे अपि प्रयुज्यते)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about understanding the Lord’s form (rūpa)?

This verse shows that knowing the Lord’s true form is possible by taking His shelter and praying for His protection; realization comes by His grace, allowing one to understand both His transcendent and manifested aspects.

Why did Brahmā pray to the Lord in this way in Canto 2 Chapter 9?

After receiving the Lord’s instructions and vision, Brahmā acknowledges his dependence and asks for continued divine shelter so he can properly comprehend the Lord’s reality and carry out creation without illusion.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Approach spiritual understanding with humility: seek refuge in God, pray for guidance, and study with devotion—recognizing that deeper realization is not merely intellectual but granted through sincere surrender.