Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 32

Vidura’s Questions on Devotion and Sarga; Maitreya Begins the Account of Creation

Devanagari script

तामसो भूतसूक्ष्मादिर्यत: खं लिङ्गमात्मन: ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

tāmaso bhūta-sūkṣmādir yataḥ khaṁ liṅgam ātmanaḥ

Translation

由昏暗无明的我执变异生出声之微细本质；由声显现虚空，作为指示至上灵（Paramatma）的象征（linga）。

Synonyms

• tāmasaḥ: tamasic (of darkness)
• tāmasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular); viśeṣaṇa (adjective)

• bhūta-sūkṣma-ādiḥ: the origin of the subtle elements
• bhūta-sūkṣma-ādiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana; samāsa: tatpuruṣa (determinative) ‘bhūtānāṁ sūkṣmāṇām ādiḥ’

• yataḥ: from which
• yataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatas (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; sambandha-avyaya (relative indeclinable) = ‘from which/whence’

• kham: ether, space
• kham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

• liṅgam: the characteristic sign
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), Ekavacana; here in apposition to ‘kham’ (predicate/appositive)

• ātmanaḥ: of the Self
• ātmanaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana

Purport

In the Vedic hymns it is said, etasmād ātmanaḥ ākāśaḥ sambhūtaḥ. The sky is the symbolic representation of the Supreme Soul. Those who are egoistic in passion and ignorance cannot conceive of the Personality of Godhead. For them the sky is the symbolic representation of the Supreme Soul.

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Vidura

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the creation of ether (ākāśa) from tamas?

This verse states that from the mode of ignorance (tamas) the subtle basis of the elements manifests, and from that ether (space) arises as the first gross element in this sequence.

Why did Maitreya explain this creation sequence to Vidura in Canto 3 Chapter 5?

Vidura sought clear knowledge of the Lord’s material creation and the workings of prakṛti; Maitreya answers by outlining the Sāṅkhya-style progression from the guṇas to subtle and gross elements.

How can this teaching about tamas and the elements be applied in modern life?

It encourages discernment: by recognizing how ignorance conditions perception and embodiment, one can cultivate clarity (sattva) through sādhana—hearing, chanting, and regulated living—to progress toward spiritual realization.