Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 16

Guṇa-viveka, Haṁsa-gītā, and the Yoga that Cuts False Ego

Devanagari script

श्रीभगवानुवाच पुत्रा हिरण्यगर्भस्य मानसा: सनकादय: । पप्रच्छु: पितरं सूक्ष्मां योगस्यैकान्तिकीं गतिम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-bhagavān uvāca putrā hiraṇyagarbhasya mānasāḥ sanakādayaḥ papracchuḥ pitaraṁ sūkṣmāṁ yogasyaikāntikīṁ gatim

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Once, the mental sons of Lord Brahmā, namely, the sages headed by Sanaka, inquired from their father about the difficult subject matter of the supreme goal of yoga.

Synonyms

• श्री-भगवान्: Śrī Bhagavān (the Lord)
• श्री-भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + भगवान् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: 'श्रीमान् भगवान्'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हिरण्यगर्भस्य: of Hiraṇyagarbha (Brahmā)
• हिरण्यगर्भस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्यगर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मानसाः: mind-born
• मानसाः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सनक-आदयः: Sanaka and others
• सनक-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—apposition to पुत्राः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'सनकः आदिः येषां ते'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पप्रच्छुः: asked
• पप्रच्छुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√पृच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पितरम्: their father
• पितरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सूक्ष्माम्: subtle
• सूक्ष्माम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to गतिम्)

• योगस्य: of yoga
• योगस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• एकान्तिकीम्: exclusive; ultimate
• एकान्तिकीम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकान्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to गतिम्)

• गतिम्: path/goal
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyagarbha (Brahmā)
• Sanaka
• Sanandana
• Sanātana
• Sanat-kumāra

FAQs

What is ‘ekāntikī gati’ (exclusive destination) of yoga in Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this verse, ‘ekāntikī gati’ indicates the one-pointed, exclusive goal of yoga—attainment of the Supreme Lord through undivided devotion rather than mixed motives or merely mystical achievement.

Why did the Sanaka Kumāras ask Brahmā about the subtle path of yoga?

As mind-born sages devoted to spiritual truth, Sanaka and the other Kumāras approached their father Brahmā to clarify the most refined and ultimate purpose of yoga—its exclusive culmination in the Supreme.

How can one practice one-pointed (ekāntika) yoga in modern life?

By simplifying intentions and daily habits around devotion—regular hearing/chanting of the Lord’s names, offering work as service, and avoiding distractions that dilute spiritual focus—one cultivates the one-pointed orientation implied here.