Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 11

Guṇa-viveka, Haṁsa-gītā, and the Yoga that Cuts False Ego

Devanagari script

करोति कामवशग: कर्माण्यविजितेन्द्रिय: । दु:खोदर्काणि सम्पश्यन् रजोवेगविमोहित: ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

karoti kāma-vaśa-gaḥ karmāṇy avijitendriyaḥ duḥkhodarkāṇi sampaśyan rajo-vega-vimohitaḥ

Translation

Celui qui ne maîtrise pas ses sens tombe sous l’emprise du désir et se trouve égaré par les puissantes vagues du rajas. Bien qu’il voie clairement que le résultat sera une souffrance future, il poursuit ses actes matériels.

Synonyms

• karoti: does; performs
• karoti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• kāma-vaśa-gaḥ: one who is under the control of desire
• kāma-vaśa-gaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma + vaśa + ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• karmāṇi: actions
• karmāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• avijita-indriyaḥ: with unconquered senses
• avijita-indriyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + vijita + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi: ‘whose senses are not conquered’

• duḥkha-udarkāṇi: ending in suffering; having sorrow as result
• duḥkha-udarkāṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha + udarka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); agreeing with karmāṇi

• sampaśyan: seeing; even while perceiving
• sampaśyan: Karta (कर्ता) (participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + paś (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with subject

• rajaḥ-vega-vimohitaḥ: deluded by the force of rajas
• rajaḥ-vega-vimohitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rajas + vega + vimohita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘deluded by the rush of rajas’

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about lust (kāma) and uncontrolled senses?

This verse explains that when a person is ruled by kāma and has not conquered the senses, he still performs actions even knowing they will end in suffering, because rajas (passion) bewilders the intelligence.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize rajas (passion) in this teaching?

Because rajas creates agitation and impulsive desire, covering clear discrimination; thus one knowingly chooses harmful karma, which later matures as distress.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Notice patterns where you repeat harmful habits despite knowing the outcome; reduce rajas through regulated life, sāttvika choices, and bhakti practices (hearing, chanting, and remembrance) to strengthen self-control.