Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 13

Puṁsavana / Viṣṇu-vrata: Worship of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa for Auspicious Progeny and Fortune

Devanagari script

गुणव्यक्तिरियं देवी व्यञ्जको गुणभुग्भवान् । त्वं हि सर्वशरीर्यात्मा श्री: शरीरेन्द्रियाशया: । नामरूपे भगवती प्रत्ययस्त्वमपाश्रय: ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

guṇa-vyaktir iyaṁ devī vyañjako guṇa-bhug bhavān tvaṁ hi sarva-śarīry ātmā śrīḥ śarīrendriyāśayāḥ nāma-rūpe bhagavatī pratyayas tvam apāśrayaḥ

Translation

此处的女神吉祥天女（Śrī Lakṣmī）是诸德性的显现；而你是使这些德性显发并享受它们的主。你作为一切众生的超灵（Paramātmā）而住；吉祥天女则呈现为他们的身体、感官与心意之所依。她具足神圣的名与相，而你是所有名相的依止与显现之因。

Synonyms

• गुणव्यक्तिः: manifestation of the guṇas
• गुणव्यक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण + व्यक्तिः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'manifestation of qualities'

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• व्यञ्जकः: revealer, manifestor
• व्यञ्जकः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यञ्जक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• गुणभुक्: enjoyer/experiencer of the guṇas
• गुणभुक्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण + भुज् (धातु) → भुक् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agent-noun from √भुज्; 'enjoyer/experiencer of guṇas'

• भवान्: you (honored one)
• भवान्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; honorific

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative, Singular (2nd person pronoun)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) giving emphasis/causal sense

• सर्वशरीरी: the one embodied in all bodies
• सर्वशरीरी: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + शरीरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'one who has all bodies'

• आत्मा: Self, soul
• आत्मा: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• श्रीः: Śrī (Lakṣmī), fortune
• श्रीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• शरीर: body
• शरीर: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Stem-form used as prior member in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• इन्द्रिय: sense-organ
• इन्द्रिय: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Stem-form used as prior member in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• आशयाः: abodes/inner seats (together with body and senses)
• आशयाः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); here as part of compound 'शरीरेन्द्रियाशयाः' interpreted as dvandva: 'bodies, senses, and abodes/intentions'

• नाम: name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Stem-form used in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• रूपे: in name and form
• रूपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन); dvandva 'नामरूपे' = 'in name and form'

• भगवती: the divine lady
• भगवती: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; epithet of Śrī/Devī

• प्रत्ययः: cognition, conviction, awareness
• प्रत्ययः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• अपाश्रयः: supportless; having no other refuge
• अपाश्रयः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; adjective meaning 'without support/refuge' (निराश्रय)

Purport

Madhvācārya, the ācārya of the Tattvavādīs, has described this verse in the following way: “Viṣṇu is described as yajña personified, and mother Lakṣmī is described as spiritual activities and the original form of worship. In fact, they represent spiritual activities and the Supersoul of all yajña. Lord Viṣṇu is the Supersoul even of Lakṣmīdevī, but no one can be the Supersoul of Lord Viṣṇu, for Lord Viṣṇu Himself is the spiritual Supersoul of everyone.”

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa)
• Devī (Māyā/Śakti)
• Śrī (Lakṣmī)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Māyā and the three guṇas?

This verse distinguishes the Goddess as the manifestation of the guṇas, while Bhagavān is the revealer and experiencer—showing that the modes act as His potency, not as an independent ultimate reality.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Bhagavān as the Self within all bodies?

To affirm Viṣṇu’s position as the indwelling Supersoul (ātmā) of every embodied being, grounding devotion in the understanding that the Lord is present within all living entities.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

See changing moods and circumstances as movements of the guṇas, and anchor your identity in the inner Self and devotion to Bhagavān—cultivating steadiness, humility, and God-centered choices.