Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

गुणिनामप्यहं सूत्रं महतां च महानहम् । सूक्ष्माणामप्यहं जीवो दुर्जयानामहं मन: ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

guṇinām apy ahaṁ sūtraṁ mahatāṁ ca mahān aham sūkṣmāṇām apy ahaṁ jīvo durjayānām ahaṁ manaḥ

Translation

Parmi ce qui possède des qualités, Je suis le fil primordial de la nature; parmi les grandeurs, Je suis le Mahat-tattva. Parmi le subtil, Je suis le jīva, et parmi ce qui est difficile à vaincre, Je suis le mental.

Synonyms

• गुणिनाम्: of the virtuous/qualified ones
• गुणिनाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (निपात/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle; concessive/emphatic ‘even/also’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; 1st person pronoun nominative singular

• सूत्रम्: the thread/connecting principle
• सूत्रम्: प्रधानेन विधेय (Predicate nominative/प्रत्ययार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular

• महताम्: of the great
• महताम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; genitive plural (of the great ones)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय/conjunction ‘and’

• महान्: great
• महान्: प्रधानेन विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सूक्ष्माणाम्: of the subtle (entities)
• सूक्ष्माणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सामान्य-विशेषण), षष्ठी, बहुवचन; genitive plural ‘of the subtle’

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (निपात/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle; ‘even/also’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जीवः: the living being (jīva)
• जीवः: प्रधानेन विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• दुर्जयानाम्: of the unconquerable
• दुर्जयानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सामान्य-विशेषण), षष्ठी, बहुवचन; genitive plural ‘of the unconquerable’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मनः: mind
• मनः: प्रधानेन विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the mind being difficult to conquer?

In 11.16.11, Śrī Kṛṣṇa identifies the mind as the foremost among the unconquerable, implying that self-mastery requires recognizing the mind’s power and bringing it under spiritual discipline.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

Kṛṣṇa is instructing Uddhava through vibhūtis (divine manifestations) to help him see the Lord’s presence within all categories of existence—virtue, greatness, subtlety, and inner struggle—so devotion becomes steady and all-pervading.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

See noble qualities as grounded in the Divine, honor true greatness as God’s gift, cultivate respect for the living soul, and prioritize mind-control through sādhana (japa, prayer, right association, and disciplined habits).