Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 15

Bhagīratha Brings Gaṅgā; Saudāsa’s Curse; Khaṭvāṅga’s Instant Renunciation

Devanagari script

सन्निवेश्य मनो यस्मिञ्छ्रद्धया मुनयोऽमला: । त्रैगुण्यं दुस्त्यजं हित्वा सद्यो यातास्तदात्मताम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

sanniveśya mano yasmiñ chraddhayā munayo ’malāḥ traiguṇyaṁ dustyajaṁ hitvā sadyo yātās tad-ātmatām

Translation

Great sages, completely freed from material lusty desires, devote their minds fully to the service of the Lord. Such persons are liberated from material bondage without difficulty, and they become transcendentally situated, acquiring the spiritual quality of the Lord. This is the glory of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Synonyms

• sanniveśya: having fixed
• sanniveśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ni + √viś (विश्/प्रवेशने) → sanniveśya (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having fixed/placed’

• manaḥ: the mind
• manaḥ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/Accusative), एकवचन

• yasmin: in whom
• yasmin: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th case/Locative), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• śraddhayā: with faith
• śraddhayā: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śraddhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/Instrumental), एकवचन

• munayaḥ: sages
• munayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case/Nominative), बहुवचन

• amalāḥ: pure
• amalāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; adjective qualifying 'munayaḥ'

• traiguṇyam: the threefold guṇas (material nature)
• traiguṇyam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri-guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) → traiguṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (त्रयाणां गुणानां भावः)

• dustyajam: hard to abandon
• dustyajam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dus- (उपसर्ग) + tyajya (कृदन्त from √tyaj त्यज्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying 'traiguṇyam'

• hitvā: having given up
• hitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hā (हा/त्यागे) → hitvā (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having abandoned’

• sadyaḥ: immediately
• sadyaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• yātāḥ: attained/went
• yātāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (या/गत्यर्थ) → yāta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; finite sense ‘went/attained’ with implied copula

• tad-ātmatām: identity with Him
• tad-ātmatām: Karma (कर्म/object/goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + -tā (भावप्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (तस्य आत्मता = identity with Him)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about transcending the three modes of nature (triguna)?

This verse says that when pure sages fix their minds on the Supreme Lord with faith, they can abandon the difficult bondage of the three modes and quickly attain spiritual realization.

Who is speaking this verse in Srimad Bhagavatam 9.9.15?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating this teaching while describing how absorption in the Supreme Lord enables liberation beyond material nature.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life to reduce anxiety and material attachment?

Practice steady remembrance of the Lord (through japa, kirtan, and focused prayer) with sincere faith; this gradually loosens the grip of rajas and tamas and brings clarity, detachment, and peace.