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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 24

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

एकादशत्व आत्मासौ महाभूतेन्द्रियाणि च । अष्टौ प्रकृतयश्चैव पुरुषश्च नवेत्यथ ॥ २४ ॥

ekādaśatva ātmāsau mahā-bhūtendriyāṇi ca aṣṭau prakṛtayaś caiva puruṣaś ca navety atha

ក្នុងការរាប់ដប់មួយ មានអាត្មា មហាភូត និងឥន្ទ្រិយ។ ហើយធាតុធម្មជាតិ (ប្រក្រឹតិ) ទាំងប្រាំបី—ទាំងធំទាំងល្អិត—រួមជាមួយបុរស (ព្រះអម្ចាស់) ក្លាយជា៩ ដូចដែលខ្លះនិយាយ។

ekādaśatvein the elevenfold (count)
ekādaśatve:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
TypeNoun
Rootekādaśatva (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘in the state/count of eleven’
ātmāthe self
ātmā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootātman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
asauthis/that (one)
asau:
Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootasau (प्रातिपदिक)
FormDemonstrative pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
mahā-bhūta-indriyāṇithe gross elements and the senses
mahā-bhūta-indriyāṇi:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa: mahābhūtāni + indriyāṇi (collective); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)
aṣṭaueight
aṣṭau:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootaṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNumeral used substantively; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)
prakṛtayaḥnatures/principles (prakṛtis)
prakṛtayaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootprakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)
evaindeed
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormParticle/emphasis (निपात)
puruṣaḥthe person (puruṣa)
puruṣaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpuruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)
navanine
nava:
Pradhana-predicative (विधेय)
TypeAdjective
Rootnava (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNumeral (सङ्ख्या), used predicatively; (Masculine/Neuter) Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
itithus
iti:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
FormQuotative particle (इति-निपात)
athathen/now
atha:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatha (अव्यय)
FormDiscourse particle (अथ-अव्यय): now/then
K
Krishna
U
Uddhava

FAQs

This verse explains that the same reality is described through different valid counts—eleven, eight, or nine—depending on whether one includes the great elements and senses, the material natures, and/or the puruṣa.

To show Uddhava that analytical descriptions of reality vary by method and emphasis, yet all aim at the same goal: clear discrimination between the self, material nature, and the conscious principle for liberation.

By distinguishing the observer (self) from body, senses, and material conditions, one reduces anxiety and attachment and strengthens steady devotion and inner clarity.