Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 69

Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage

Devanagari script

य इह वाव स्थिरचरनिकराणां निजनिकेतनानां मनइन्द्रियासु गणाननात्मन: स्वयमात्मान्तर्यामी प्रचोदयति ॥ ६९ ॥

Transliteration

ya iha vāva sthira-cara-nikarāṇāṁ nija-niketanānāṁ mana-indriyāsu-gaṇān anātmanaḥ svayam ātmāntar-yāmī pracodayati.

Translation

You are personally present as the indwelling Lord within the hearts of all moving and nonmoving beings who wholly depend on Your shelter. Indeed, You Yourself impel their minds, senses, and vital airs to act.

Synonyms

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (here/in this world)

• वाव: indeed
• वाव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वाव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed)

• स्थिर-चर-निकराणाम्: of the multitudes of moving and non-moving beings
• स्थिर-चर-निकराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक) + चर (प्रातिपदिक) + निकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वपूर्वक तत्पुरुषभावः (स्थिराश्च चराश्च—तयोः निकराः)

• निज-निकेतनानाम्: of their own abodes
• निज-निकेतनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + निकेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (निजानि निकेतनानि)

• मनः-इन्द्रिय-असु-गणान्: the groups of mind, senses, and vital airs
• मनः-इन्द्रिय-असु-गणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + असु (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वसमासः (मनश्च इन्द्रियाणि च असवश्च—तेषां गणाः)

• अनात्मनः: of the embodied (non-self)
• अनात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; नञ्-समासान्त प्रातिपदिक (of the non-self/embodied being)

• स्वयम्: by Himself
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/emphatic)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मकर्तृवाचक (by oneself)

• आत्म-अन्तर्-यामी: the inner ruler within the self
• आत्म-अन्तर्-यामी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + यामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनि अन्तर् यामी = inner controller)

• प्रचोदयति: impels/sets in motion
• प्रचोदयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-चुद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Lord Brahmā
• Paramātmā (Antaryāmī)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Antaryami (the indwelling Lord)?

This verse states that the Supreme Lord, as Antaryāmī, personally impels the mind, senses, and their activities of all living beings—moving and nonmoving—showing His intimate governance from within.

Why does Lord Brahmā describe the Lord as the controller of mind and senses?

In his prayers, Brahmā emphasizes that all agency ultimately rests in the Supreme: even the inner workings of perception and thought are energized and directed by the Lord present within the heart as Paramātmā.

Practical application of the Antaryami teaching in modern life?

Cultivate humility and prayerful dependence: before acting, remember the Lord within, seek guidance through devotion and conscience, and align the mind and senses with dharma rather than ego-driven impulses.