Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 14

The Universal Form (Virāṭ-Puruṣa): The Lord’s Entry into the Elements, the Devas, and the Origin of Varṇāśrama

Devanagari script

निर्भिन्ने अश्विनौ नासे विष्णोराविशतां पदम् । घ्राणेनांशेन गन्धस्य प्रतिपत्तिर्यतो भवेत् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

nirbhinne aśvinau nāse viṣṇor āviśatāṁ padam ghrāṇenāṁśena gandhasya pratipattir yato bhavet

Translation

当主的两鼻孔分别显现时，双生的阿湿毗尼童子进入其中各安其位；由嗅觉之分能，众生得以闻知一切香气。

Synonyms

• निर्भिन्ने: when (the two) were split open
• निर्भिन्ने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-भिद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), द्विवचन; विशेषण (नासे)

• अश्विनौ: the two Aśvins
• अश्विनौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• नासे: in the two nostrils
• नासे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), द्विवचन

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• आविशताम्: (they two) entered
• आविशताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• पदम्: place/seat
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• घ्राणेन: by the nose (sense of smell)
• घ्राणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घ्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• अंशेन: by a portion
• अंशेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• गन्धस्य: of smell/odor
• गन्धस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• प्रतिपत्तिः: perception/attainment
• प्रतिपत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिपत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यतः: whereby/from which
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय/सम्बन्धाव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/यत्-सम्बन्ध (from which/whereby)

• भवेत्: would be/arises
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Aśvinī-kumāras (the Aśvins)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the origin of the sense of smell?

This verse explains that when the nostrils manifested, the Aśvinī-kumāras entered them along with the Lord’s potency, and thus the ability to perceive fragrance through smell arose.

Why are the Aśvinī-kumāras mentioned in relation to the nose in Canto 3?

In the Bhagavatam’s description of universal creation, specific demigods preside over bodily functions and senses; here the Aśvins are connected with the nostrils and the functioning of smell.

Practical application of this teaching about senses in modern life?

It encourages seeing the senses as sacred instruments under divine order—use them with restraint and devotion (e.g., avoiding harmful indulgence and engaging the senses in God-centered living).