Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 8

The Dynasty of Vaivasvata Manu Begins — Ilā/Sudyumna and the Birth of Purūravā

Devanagari script

परावरेषां भूतानामात्मा य: पुरुष: पर: । स एवासीदिदं विश्वं कल्पान्तेऽन्यन्न किञ्चन ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

parāvareṣāṁ bhūtānām ātmā yaḥ puruṣaḥ paraḥ sa evāsīd idaṁ viśvaṁ kalpānte ’nyan na kiñcana

Translation

那超越的至上人格，作为一切众生高低诸类的内在灵魂，于劫末独自存在；彼时此显现宇宙亦不复有，除祂之外别无一物。

Synonyms

• parāvareṣām: of the higher and lower (beings)
• parāvareṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parāvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective used substantively: ‘of the higher and the lower’

• bhūtānām: of beings
• bhūtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ātmā: the Self
• ātmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• puruṣaḥ: the Person
• puruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• paraḥ: supreme
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying puruṣaḥ

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) of emphasis

• āsīt: was/existed
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता/predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• viśvam: universe
• viśvam: Karta (कर्ता/apposition to idam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kalpa-ante: at the end of the kalpa
• kalpa-ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘at the end of a kalpa’

• anyat: anything else
• anyat: Karta (कर्ता/predicate with negation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• kiñcana: anything whatsoever
• kiñcana: Karta (कर्ता/predicate with negation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiñcana (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); indefinite pronoun used with negation

Purport

Taking the proper position from which to describe the dynasty of Manu, Śukadeva Gosvāmī begins by saying that when the entire world is inundated, only the Supreme Personality of Godhead exists, and nothing else. Śukadeva Gosvāmī will now describe how the Lord creates other things, one after another.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about what exists at the end of a kalpa (cosmic dissolution)?

This verse states that at the end of the kalpa, only the Supreme Person remains; nothing separate from Him exists.

Who is described as the ātmā (Self) of all beings in the Bhagavata Purana?

The verse identifies the Supreme Puruṣa as the ātmā of all beings—both the highest and the lowest—indicating the Lord’s presence within all.

How can this teaching be applied in modern spiritual life?

Seeing the Lord as the inner Self of all encourages humility, reverence for every living being, and steadiness in devotion beyond changing circumstances.