Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 22

Sāṅkhya Enumeration of Tattvas, Distinction of Puruṣa–Prakṛti, and the Mechanics of Birth and Death

Devanagari script

सङ्ख्याने सप्तदशके भूतमात्रेन्द्रियाणि च । पञ्च पञ्चैकमनसा आत्मा सप्तदश: स्मृत: ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

saṅkhyāne saptadaśake bhūta-mātrendriyāṇi ca pañca pañcaika-manasā ātmā saptadaśaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

ある者は十七要素を数える。五大、五つの感覚対象（タンマートラ）、五根、心（マナス）、そして第十七として霊魂である。

Synonyms

• saṅkhyāne: in the enumeration
• saṅkhyāne: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅkhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• saptadaśake: in the seventeenfold (set)
• saptadaśake: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptadaśaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘in the group of seventeen’

• bhūta-mātra-indriyāṇi: elements, subtle essences, and senses
• bhūta-mātra-indriyāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (समाहार-द्वन्द्व) listing categories; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

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

• pañca: five
• pañca: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral (सङ्ख्या), indeclinable-like usage; here ‘five’ qualifying implied items

• pañca: five
• pañca: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral (सङ्ख्या), repeated for second set of five

• eka-manasā: with the one mind
• eka-manasā: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/संख्यापूर्वपद): ekaṁ manaḥ; Neuter base manas; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ātmā: the self
• ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• saptadaśaḥ: seventeen
• saptadaśaḥ: Pradhana-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptadaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral used predicatively; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• smṛtaḥ: is considered/remembered
• smṛtaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु) + smṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) used as finite predicate; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the 17 elements (tattvas) in Sankhya?

In this verse, Kṛṣṇa explains a seventeenfold analysis: five gross elements, five subtle sense-objects, five senses, plus the mind—along with the self counted as the seventeenth.

Why did Krishna teach Sankhya enumeration to Uddhava in Canto 11?

Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava to see the body-mind-sense complex as analyzable components, so Uddhava can recognize the distinct self (ātman) and cultivate detachment and devotion.

How can I apply this teaching about senses and mind in modern life?

By observing thoughts and sensory pulls as functions of mind and senses—rather than as the self—you can reduce impulsive identification, practice steadiness, and turn attention toward bhakti and remembrance of the Lord.