Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 45

The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa (Avanti-brāhmaṇa-gītā): Mind as the Root of Suffering and Equanimity Amid Insult

Devanagari script

दानं स्वधर्मो नियमो यमश्च श्रुतं च कर्माणि च सद्‍व्रतानि । सर्वे मनोनिग्रहलक्षणान्ता: परो हि योगो मनस: समाधि: ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

dānaṁ sva-dharmo niyamo yamaś ca śrutaṁ ca karmāṇi ca sad-vratāni sarve mano-nigraha-lakṣaṇāntāḥ paro hi yogo manasaḥ samādhiḥ

Translation

Wohltätigkeit, die Ausübung des eigenen Dharma, Niyama und Yama, das Hören der Schriften, fromme Werke und reinigende Gelübde — all dies zielt letztlich auf die Zügelung des Geistes. Wahrlich, die höchste Yoga ist die Samādhi des Geistes: seine Sammlung im Höchsten Herrn.

Synonyms

• dānam: charity, giving
• dānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sva-dharmaḥ: one’s own duty
• sva-dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (sva-sambandha)

• niyamaḥ: observance, rule
• niyamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• yamaḥ: restraint (yama)
• yamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• śrutam: scriptural hearing/learning
• śrutam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; ‘that which is heard’ (scriptural learning)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक)

• karmāṇi: ritual acts, works
• karmāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक)

• sat-vratāni: good vows/observances
• sat-vratāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural; कर्मधारयः (sat = good, qualifying vrata)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural; agrees with implied plural items

• mano-nigraha-lakṣaṇa-antāḥ: having mind-control as their defining end
• mano-nigraha-lakṣaṇa-antāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक) + nigraha (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural; बहुव्रीहिः ‘having as their end/culmination the mark of mind-control’

• paraḥ: supreme
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; predicate adjective to yogaḥ

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/indeed

• yogaḥ: yoga
• yogaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• manasaḥ: of the mind
• manasaḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• samādhiḥ: concentration, absorption
• samādhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samādhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; in apposition to yogaḥ

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava
• Avadhūta (Dattātreya)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say is the highest form of yoga?

This verse states that the supreme yoga is samādhi—complete absorption of the mind—because all disciplines like charity, vows, scriptural study, and righteous duties ultimately aim at mastery of the mind.

Why does Krishna emphasize mind control over rituals and vows in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava Gītā’s teachings (including the Avadhūta’s wisdom), external practices are honored, but their true purpose is inner transformation—bringing the mind under control and into steady absorption.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Treat practices like charity, daily duties, and spiritual study as supports for training attention: reduce mental distractions, cultivate restraint and discipline, and regularly bring the mind back to remembrance of the Divine through focused meditation and devotion.