Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 13

Vibhūti-yoga in the Bhāgavata: The Lord’s Manifest Opulences and the Discipline of Control

Devanagari script

इन्द्रोऽहं सर्वदेवानां वसूनामस्मि हव्यवाट् । आदित्यानामहं विष्णू रुद्राणां नीललोहित: ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

indro ’haṁ sarva-devānāṁ vasūnām asmi havya-vāṭ ādityānām ahaṁ viṣṇū rudrāṇāṁ nīla-lohitaḥ

Translation

在诸天神中，我是因陀罗；在八位婆苏中，我是火神阿耆尼。于阿底提之子中，我是毗湿奴；于诸鲁陀罗中，我是尼罗罗希多（湿婆）。

Synonyms

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: प्रधानेन विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वदेवानाम्: of all the gods
• सर्वदेवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; genitive plural; समास: सर्वे देवाः (कर्मधारय)

• वसूनाम्: of the Vasus
• वसूनाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; genitive plural

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• हव्यवाट्: Havyavāṭ (Agni, carrier of oblations)
• हव्यवाट्: प्रधानेन विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्य + वाट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular; समास: हव्यस्य वाट्/वह्निः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष), ‘carrier of oblations’ (अग्नि)

• आदित्यानाम्: of the Ādityas
• आदित्यानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; genitive plural

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: प्रधानेन विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• रुद्राणाम्: of the Rudras
• रुद्राणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; genitive plural

• नीललोहितः: Nīlalohita (blue-red one; Rudra)
• नीललोहितः: प्रधानेन विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील + लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular; समास: नीलश्च लोहितश्च/नीलः लोहितः (कर्मधारय), epithet of Rudra

Purport

Lord Viṣṇu appeared among the sons of Aditi as Vāmanadeva.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Havyavāṭ
• Viṣṇu
• Nīlalohita

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being the source of the devatas?

In 11.16.13, Kṛṣṇa declares that among various divine classes (devatās, Vasus, Ādityas, Rudras) He is their foremost representative—teaching that their excellence ultimately rests in Him.

Why did Krishna describe Himself as Indra, Vishnu, and Nīlalohita in this verse?

In Canto 11 Chapter 16, Kṛṣṇa is revealing His vibhūtis (divine opulences) to Uddhava, showing how the greatest power or prominence within each category points back to Him.

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

Train the mind to recognize excellence, authority, and protection as reflections of the Supreme, and respond with gratitude and remembrance of Kṛṣṇa rather than pride, fear, or mere admiration of secondary powers.