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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 12

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

रजस्तमोभ्यां यदपि विद्वान् विक्षिप्तधी: पुन: । अतन्द्रितो मनो युञ्जन् दोषद‍ृष्टिर्न सज्जते ॥ १२ ॥

rajas-tamobhyāṁ yad api vidvān vikṣipta-dhīḥ punaḥ atandrito mano yuñjan doṣa-dṛṣṭir na sajjate

Bien que l’intelligence du savant puisse être troublée par le rajas et le tamas, il doit, sans paresse, ramener l’esprit sous contrôle. Voyant clairement la souillure des modes, il ne s’attache pas.

rajaḥ-tamobhyāmby rajas and tamas
rajaḥ-tamobhyām:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootrajas + tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Dual (द्विवचन); dvandva: ‘by rajas and tamas’
yatalthough
yat:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormConcessive relative particle in combination (यद् अपि = ‘although’)
apieven
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात) ‘even/also’
vidvāna wise man
vidvān:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvidvas (प्रातिपदिक; from √vid)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
vikṣipta-dhīḥwith distracted understanding
vikṣipta-dhīḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootvikṣipta + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Feminine (common usage), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘one whose intellect is distracted’
punaḥagain
punaḥ:
Kāla/Anuvṛtti (काल/अनुवृत्ति)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpunaḥ (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘again’
atandritaḥunwearied; vigilant
atandritaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roota- + tandrita (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
manaḥthe mind
manaḥ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootmanas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
yuñjanengaging; yoking (it)
yuñjan:
Karta (कर्ता) (participial)
TypeVerb
Rootyuj (धातु)
FormPresent active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
doṣa-dṛkseeing the faults
doṣa-dṛk:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdoṣa + dṛś (प्रातिपदिक: dṛk)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘one who sees faults (in sense objects)’
nanot
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध-निपात)
sajjatebecomes attached
sajjate:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootsaj (धातu)
FormPresent (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

FAQs

This verse explains that even if passion and ignorance disturb the mind again, a wise person does not fall into attachment because he stays vigilant, re-engages the mind in disciplined practice, and remembers the defects of material enjoyment.

Because the lower modes can reappear even in a learned person; constant alertness and re-yoking the mind to spiritual practice prevents relapse into attachment.

Regularly reflect on how uncontrolled sense pleasure produces anxiety, bondage, and dissatisfaction; then deliberately redirect the mind to sādhana—hearing, chanting, and disciplined habits—so attraction to harmful pleasures weakens.