SB 3.12.52 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.12.52

एवं युक्तकृतस्तस्य दैवञ्चावेक्षतस्तदा । कस्य रूपमभूद् द्वेधा यत्कायमभिचक्षते ॥ ५२ ॥

evaṁ yukta-kṛtas tasya

[evam yukta-kritas tasya]

daivaṁ cāvekṣatas tadā

[daivam chaavekshatas tadaa]

kasya rūpam abhūd dvedhā

[kasya roopam abhood dvedhaa]

yat kāyam abhicakṣate

[yat kaayam abhichakshate]

Word-for-word

evam — thus yukta — contemplating kṛtaḥ — while doing so tasya — his daivam — supernatural power ca — also avekṣataḥ — observing tadā — at that time kasya — of Brahmā rūpam — form abhūt — became manifested dvedhā — twofold yat — which is kāyam — his body abhicakṣate — is said to be.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

evaṁ yukta-kṛtas tasya

evam

thus

yukta

contemplating

kṛtaḥ

while doing so

tasya

his

daivaṁ cāvekṣatas tadā

daivam

supernatural power

also

avekṣataḥ

observing

tadā

at that time

kasya rūpam abhūd dvedhā

kasya

of Brahmā

rūpam

form

abhūt

became manifested

dvedhā

twofold

yat kāyam abhicakṣate

yat

which is

kāyam

his body

abhicakṣate

is said to be.

While he was thus absorbed in contemplation and was observing the supernatural power, two other forms were generated from his body. They are still celebrated as the body of Brahmā.

Purport

Two bodies came out from the body of Brahmā. One had a mustache, and the other had swollen breasts. No one can explain the source of their manifestation, and therefore until today they are known as the kāyam, or the body of Brahmā, with no indication of their relationship as his son or daughter.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

While engaging himself properly and considering his bad luck, his body became two beings, who are known as the descendents of Brahmā. Properly engaging himself (yukta-kṛtaḥ) and seeing his misfortune, one form of Brahmā became two, one with a beard and the other with breasts. Since the two bodies were related to Brahmā (ka) they are known as kāya, or his descendents. Kaḥ and āyana combine to form kāyana, which means “descendent of ka or Brahmā,” by the rule naḍāditvāt phak (Pāṇinī 4.1.99). The syllable na is dropped for metrical reasons, to form the word kāya.

Personal Guidance

The verse describes layered cosmic machinery — modes, elements, governing demigods — to remind us that even our 'private' lives are arranged by larger hands.

Reflection Questions

What would change in your prayer if you remembered how small your sphere actually is?
Which 'cosmic' problem are you trying to solve when your actual task is just to play your small part well?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io