Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 8
Jaḍa Bharata Instructs King Rahūgaṇa: The Mind as Bondage and the Two Kṣetrajñas
गुणानुरक्तं व्यसनाय जन्तो: क्षेमाय नैर्गुण्यमथो मन: स्यात् । यथा प्रदीपो घृतवर्तिमश्नन् शिखा: सधूमा भजति ह्यन्यदा स्वम् । पदं तथा गुणकर्मानुबद्धं वृत्तीर्मन: श्रयतेऽन्यत्र तत्त्वम् ॥ ८ ॥
guṇānuraktaṁ vyasanāya jantoḥ kṣemāya nairguṇyam atho manaḥ syāt yathā pradīpo ghṛta-vartim aśnan śikhāḥ sadhūmā bhajati hy anyadā svam padaṁ tathā guṇa-karmānubaddhaṁ vṛttīr manaḥ śrayate ’nyatra tattvam
心がグナに染まり感官の享楽に没するとき、それは衆生の束縛と苦の原因となる。だが心がニルグナとなり享楽に執着しないとき、それは安穏と解脱の因となる。たとえば灯火は、ギーに養われた芯が正しく燃えれば清らかに輝き、誤って燃えれば煙と煤で曇る。同様に、物質的快楽に沈む心は苦を生み、そこから離れた心はクリシュナ意識の本来の光明を再び顕す。
It is therefore concluded that the mind is the cause of material existence and liberation also. Everyone is suffering in this material world because of the mind; it is therefore proper to train the mind or to cleanse the mind from material attachment and engage it fully in the Lord’s service. This is called spiritual engagement. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26) :
FAQs
This verse states that when the mind is attached to material qualities (gunas), it becomes the cause of distress; freedom from the gunas (nirguṇa) brings true welfare and liberation.
Rahūgaṇa approached Jaḍa Bharata with pride and misunderstanding; Jaḍa Bharata instructed him on the difference between the changing mind bound to karma and gunas versus the untouched spiritual truth, guiding him toward humility and self-realization.
Notice how moods and identities shift with desires and reactions; practice detachment through bhakti, self-inquiry, and disciplined living so the mind becomes less driven by the gunas and more aligned with the steady spiritual reality.