Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 13
Yamarāja Instructs the Yamadūtas: Supreme Authority, Mahājanas, and the Glory of the Holy Name
यो नामभिर्वाचि जनं निजायां बध्नाति तन्त्र्यामिव दामभिर्गा: । यस्मै बलिं त इमे नामकर्म- निबन्धबद्धाश्चकिता वहन्ति ॥ १३ ॥
yo nāmabhir vāci janaṁ nijāyāṁ badhnāti tantryām iva dāmabhir gāḥ yasmai baliṁ ta ime nāma-karma- nibandha-baddhāś cakitā vahanti
Just as the driver of a bullock cart ties ropes through the nostrils of his bulls to control them, the Supreme Personality of Godhead binds all men through the ropes of His words in the Vedas, which set forth the names and activities of the distinct orders of human society [brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra]. In fear, the members of these orders all worship the Supreme Lord by offering Him presentations according to their respective activities.
In this material world, everyone is conditioned, regardless of who he is. One may be a human being, a demigod or an animal, tree or plant, but everything is controlled by the laws of nature, and behind this natural control is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is confirmed by Bhagavad-gītā (9.10) , wherein Kṛṣṇa says, mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram: “The material nature is working under My direction and producing all moving and nonmoving beings.” Thus Kṛṣṇa is behind the natural machine, which works under His control.
FAQs
This verse says living beings become bound by the knots of their own identity and actions (nāma-karma), moving in fear and obligation, whereas the Supreme Lord remains the ultimate controller who can bind or release them.
The metaphor shows governance and control: just as cows are restrained by ropes to a post, conditioned souls are restrained by the Lord’s order operating through His words and names, and through the binding reactions of karma.
Recognize how labels and habitual actions “tie” the mind; reduce karmic entanglement by living responsibly and cultivating devotion—especially remembrance and chanting of the Lord’s names—to shift from fear-based life to God-centered surrender.