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

Devanagari script

मनोवशेऽन्ये ह्यभवन् स्म देवा मनश्च नान्यस्य वशं समेति । भीष्मो हि देव: सहस: सहीयान् युञ्ज्याद वशे तं स हि देवदेव: ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

mano-vaśe ’nye hy abhavan sma devā manaś ca nānyasya vaśaṁ sameti bhīṣmo hi devaḥ sahasaḥ sahīyān yuñjyād vaśe taṁ sa hi deva-devaḥ

Translation

Since time without beginning, the other ‘gods’—the senses—have been under the mind’s control, yet the mind itself submits to no one. Stronger than the strongest, it wields a fearsome, godlike power. Therefore, whoever brings the mind under control becomes master of all the senses.

Synonyms

• mano-vaśe: under the mind’s control
• mano-vaśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक) + vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular; तत्पुरुषः ‘under the control of the mind’

• anye: others
• anye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• abhavan: became, were
• abhavan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू) (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada

• sma: indeed/once (past marker)
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle indicating past/recollection (स्म-निपात)

• devāḥ: gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

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

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध निपात)

• anyasya: of another
• anyasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• vaśam: control, subjection
• vaśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• sameti: comes under, submits
• sameti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√i (इ) (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• bhīṣmaḥ: Bhīṣma/terrible one
• bhīṣmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• devaḥ: god, lord
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• sahasaḥ: than force/violence
• sahasaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular; comparative construction ‘than force/violence’

• sahīyān: stronger, more powerful
• sahīyān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahas (प्रातिपदिक) → sahīyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; comparative degree (तर/ईयसुन्-प्रत्यय)

• yuñjyāt: should yoke/bring under control
• yuñjyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yuj (युज्) (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

• vaśe: under control
• vaśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular

• tam: him/that (mind)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• deva-devaḥ: God of gods
• deva-devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘god of gods’

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about controlling the mind?

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.

Why does Kṛṣṇa emphasize the mind’s power in the Uddhava Gītā (Canto 11)?

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.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

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.