Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 44

Vibhūti-yoga in the Bhāgavata: The Lord’s Manifest Opulences and the Discipline of Control

Devanagari script

तस्माद्वचोमन:प्राणान् नियच्छेन्मत्परायण: । मद्भ‍‍क्तियुक्तया बुद्ध्या तत: परिसमाप्यते ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

tasmād vaco manaḥ prāṇān niyacchen mat-parāyaṇaḥ mad-bhakti-yuktayā buddhyā tataḥ parisamāpyate

Translation

Therefore, one who is surrendered to Me should control speech, mind, and prāṇa; then, with intelligence joined to loving bhakti for Me, one will completely fulfill the mission of life.

Synonyms

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: हेतु/अपादानार्थ (reason/ablatival)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (ablatival adverb: ‘therefore/from that reason’), तस्मात्-प्रयोग

• वचः: speech
• वचः: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मनः: mind
• मनः: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राणान्: vital airs
• प्राणान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• नियच्छेत्: should restrain
• नियच्छेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-यम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘one should restrain’

• मत्परायणः: one devoted to Me / taking Me as refuge
• मत्परायणः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (qualifies implied agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी ‘my’) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मत्-परायणः = ‘having Me as the supreme refuge’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण

• मद्भक्तियुक्तया: with (a mind/intellect) endowed with devotion to Me
• मद्भक्तियुक्तया: करण-विशेषण (instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मद्भक्त्या युक्ता = endowed with devotion to Me); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बुद्ध्या इति सह करणत्वे

• बुद्ध्या: by intelligence
• बुद्ध्या: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: काल/अनन्तर (temporal sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: ‘then/thereupon/from that’)

• परिसमाप्यते: is fully completed
• परिसमाप्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-सम्-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘is fully completed/comes to an end’

Purport

One can develop loving devotional intelligence by perfectly chanting the Brahma-gāyatrī mantra awarded at the moment of brāhmaṇa initiation. By clear intelligence, one becomes naturally and spontaneously disinterested in the rewards offered by mental speculation and fruitive activities and takes full shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about controlling the mind, speech, and prana?

In 11.16.44, Kṛṣṇa teaches that a devotee who takes shelter of Him should restrain speech, mind, and the life-airs, and with intelligence connected to bhakti, attains complete spiritual perfection.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

This instruction is part of the Uddhava Gītā, where Kṛṣṇa gives final, essential guidance to Uddhava—showing that inner discipline becomes effective and complete when rooted in exclusive devotion to the Lord.

How can I apply this verse in modern life?

Practice mindful speech, regulate attention and emotions, and adopt steady daily discipline (such as japa, kīrtana, and sāttvika habits), keeping your intelligence aligned with devotion—so self-control supports remembrance of Kṛṣṇa rather than mere suppression.