Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

अनीह आत्मा मनसा समीहता हिरण्मयो मत्सख उद्विचष्टे । मन: स्वलिङ्गं परिगृह्य कामान् जुषन् निबद्धो गुणसङ्गतोऽसौ ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

anīha ātmā manasā samīhatā hiraṇ-mayo mat-sakha udvicaṣṭe manaḥ sva-liṅgaṁ parigṛhya kāmān juṣan nibaddho guṇa-saṅgato ’sau

Translation

Though present within the material body along with the struggling mind, the Paramātmā does not endeavor, for He is already filled with transcendental illumination. As my friend, He simply stands as witness from His spiritual position. But I, the infinitesimal jīva, have embraced this mind—the mirror reflecting the world—and, enjoying the objects of desire, I become bound by contact with the guṇas of nature.

Synonyms

• अनीहः: inactive/without endeavor
• अनीहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनीह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (ātmā)

• आत्मा: the self
• आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मनसा: by the mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• समीहतः: endeavoring/striving
• समीहतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-ईह् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (ātmā)

• हिरण्मयः: golden/luminous
• हिरण्मयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिरण्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (ātmā)

• मत्-सखः: my friend
• मत्-सखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी) + सख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी: “my friend”)

• उद्विचष्टे: he observes/looks upon
• उद्विचष्टे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-वि-चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्व-लिङ्गम्: its own form/characteristic
• स्व-लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी: “its own mark/form”)

• परिगृह्य: having taken up
• परिगृह्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ग्रह् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (ल्यप्/क्त्वा): “having seized/assumed”

• कामान्: desires
• कामान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• जुषन्: indulging/enjoying
• जुषन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जुष् (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ-वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; “enjoying/indulging” (agreeing with asau)

• निबद्धः: bound
• निबद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-बन्ध् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (asau)

• गुण-सङ्गतः: associated with the guṇas
• गुण-सङ्गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्गत (प्रातिपदिक/क्तान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी: “associated with guṇas”)

• असौ: that one (the jīva)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about how the soul becomes bound?

This verse explains that the soul is a witness and inactive by nature, but when it identifies with the mind and enjoys desires, it becomes bound through association with the material modes (guṇas).

Why does Krishna teach Uddhava about the mind and the witnessing self in Canto 11?

Because Uddhava seeks the path of liberation and devotion; Krishna clarifies that bondage comes from mind-driven enjoyment and identification, while freedom comes from witnessing detachment and spiritual orientation.

Practical application of this teaching on mind control in modern life?

Practice observing thoughts without immediately acting on them, reduce indulgence in compulsive desires, and redirect the mind toward bhakti—hearing, chanting, and remembering the Lord.