Canto 3: The Status QuoChapter 8: Manifestation of Brahmā from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.8.29

parārdhya-keyūra-maṇi-praveka-

paryasta-dordaṇḍa-sahasra-śākham

avyakta-mūlaḿ bhuvanāńghripendram

ahīndra-bhogair adhivīta-valśam

SYNONYMS

parārdhya — very valuable; keyūra — ornaments; maṇi-praveka — highly valuable jewels; paryasta — disseminating; dordaṇḍa — arms; sahasra-śākham — with thousands of branches; avyakta-mūlam — self-situated; bhuvana — universal; ańghripa — trees; indram — the Lord; ahi-indra — Anantadeva; bhogaiḥ — by hoods; adhivīta — surrounded; valśam — shoulders.

TRANSLATION

As a sandalwood tree is decorated with fragrant flowers and branches, the Lord's body was decorated with valuable jewels and pearls. He was the self-situated tree, the Lord of all others in the universe. And as a sandalwood tree is covered with many snakes, so the Lord's body was also covered by the hoods of Ananta.

PURPORT

The word avyakta-mūlam is significant here. Generally, no one can see the roots of a tree. But as far as the Lord is concerned, He is the root of Himself because there is no other separate cause of His standing but He Himself. In the Vedas it is said that the Lord is svāśrayāśraya; He is His own support, and there is no other support for Him. Therefore, avyakta means the Supreme Lord Himself and no one else.

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