Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 47
The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa (Avanti-brāhmaṇa-gītā): Mind as the Root of Suffering and Equanimity Amid Insult
मनोवशेऽन्ये ह्यभवन् स्म देवा मनश्च नान्यस्य वशं समेति । भीष्मो हि देव: सहस: सहीयान् युञ्ज्याद वशे तं स हि देवदेव: ॥ ४७ ॥
mano-vaśe ’nye hy abhavan sma devā manaś ca nānyasya vaśaṁ sameti bhīṣmo hi devaḥ sahasaḥ sahīyān yuñjyād vaśe taṁ sa hi deva-devaḥ
Seit anfangsloser Zeit stehen die anderen „Götter“, das heißt die Sinne, unter der Herrschaft des Geistes; doch der Geist selbst gerät nie unter die Herrschaft eines anderen. Er ist stärker als der Stärkste, von gottgleicher und furchterregender Macht. Darum wird, wer den Geist bezwingt, zum Herrn über alle Sinne.
FAQs
This verse teaches that the mind can overpower even great beings, so spiritual progress requires consciously bringing the mind under discipline rather than letting it rule the senses.
Because liberation and steady devotion depend on inner mastery—when the mind is uncontrolled it drags one through sense-impulses, but when yoked it becomes a powerful ally for bhakti and realization.
Train the mind through daily sādhana—japa, hearing scripture, regulated habits, and mindful restraint—so choices are guided by dharma and devotion rather than compulsive impulses.