Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 70

Sāṅkhya: Categories of the Absolute Truth and the Unfolding of Creation

Tattva-vicāra

Devanagari script

चित्तेन हृदयं चैत्य: क्षेत्रज्ञ: प्राविशद्यदा । विराट् तदैव पुरुष: सलिलादुदतिष्ठत ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

cittena hṛdayaṁ caityaḥ kṣetra-jñaḥ prāviśad yadā virāṭ tadaiva puruṣaḥ salilād udatiṣṭhata

Translation

然而当内在主宰——主宰觉知的“场知者”(Kṣetrajña)——随心识进入心中之时，毗罗吒·普鲁沙当下便从因水之中升起。

Synonyms

• चित्तेन: by consciousness/mind
• चित्तेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• हृदयम्: the heart
• हृदयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• चैत्यः: the indwelling consciousness (caitya)
• चैत्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• क्षेत्रज्ञः: the knower of the field
• क्षेत्रज्ञः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: 'knower of the field')

• प्राविशत्: entered
• प्राविशत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• यदा: when
• यदा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय/सम्बन्धबोधक (relative temporal adverb: 'when')

• विराट्: the Virāṭ
• विराट्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराज्/विराट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तदा: then
• तदा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (correlative temporal adverb: 'then')

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

• पुरुषः: the Person
• पुरुषः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सलिलात्: from the water
• सलिलात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• उदतिष्ठत: arose
• उदतिष्ठत: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devahūti
• Kṣetrajña (Supersoul)
• Virāṭ-Puruṣa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Kshetrajna (knower of the field) in Canto 3?

This verse identifies the kṣetrajña as the indwelling witness (caitya) who enters and illumines the heart and mind, enabling manifestation and ordered experience within creation.

Why does the Bhagavatam say the Virat Purusha arose only after the Supersoul entered the heart?

The verse teaches that mere material elements are inert; when the indwelling conscious principle (the inner witness) is present, the universal form becomes active and creation can manifest in an organized way.

Practical application of the teaching about the inner witness (caitya) in modern life?

Remembering the inner witness cultivates mindfulness and moral restraint—acting with awareness that the Supersoul observes within helps steady the mind and purify intentions.