Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 15

Guṇa-vibhāga: The Three Modes and the Path Beyond Them

Devanagari script

यदा जयेद् रज: सत्त्वं तमो मूढं लयं जडम् । युज्येत शोकमोहाभ्यां निद्रयाहिंसयाशया ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

yadā jayed rajaḥ sattvaṁ tamo mūḍhaṁ layaṁ jaḍam yujyeta śoka-mohābhyāṁ nidrayā hiṁsayāśayā

Translation

無知のグナ（タマス）が激情と善性を制するとき、それは意識を覆い、人を愚鈍で鈍重にする。嘆きと迷妄に落ち、過度に眠り、虚しい望みにすがり、他者に暴力を示す。

Synonyms

• यदा: when
• यदा: सम्बन्ध/कालाधिकरण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय: 'when'

• जयेत्: should conquer
• जयेत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• रजः: rajas
• रजः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

• सत्त्वम्: sattva
• सत्त्वम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• तमः: tamas
• तमः: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• मूढम्: bewildering; deluded
• मूढम्: कर्म (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies तमः)

• लयम्: dissolution; inertia
• लयम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: लय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• जडम्: dull; inert
• जडम्: कर्म (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies लयम्)

• युज्येत: would be joined/afflicted
• युज्येत: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः

• शोकमोहाभ्याम्: by grief and delusion
• शोकमोहाभ्याम्: करण
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक) + मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (copulative): शोक+मोह; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instr), द्विवचन (dual); करण

• निद्रया: by sleep
• निद्रया: करण
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• हिंसया: by violence
• हिंसया: करण
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिंसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• आशया: by desire/hope
• आशया: करण
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the effects of rajas and tamas?

This verse explains that when passion defeats goodness and ignorance covers clarity, a person becomes dull and is bound by grief and illusion, living under the impulses of sleep, violence, and craving.

Why did Shukadeva Goswami describe the gunas to King Parikshit?

Śukadeva instructs Parīkṣit on how material nature binds the mind through the gunas, so the king can recognize degrading tendencies and fix his consciousness on liberation through devotion.

How can I apply Bhagavatam 11.25.15 in modern life?

Notice when agitation and compulsive desire eclipse clarity; reduce habits that increase dullness (excess sleep, harshness, addictive craving) and choose practices that restore sattva and support bhakti—truthfulness, self-control, and remembrance of the Lord.