Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 12

Guṇa-viveka, Haṁsa-gītā, and the Yoga that Cuts False Ego

Devanagari script

रजस्तमोभ्यां यदपि विद्वान् विक्षिप्तधी: पुन: । अतन्द्रितो मनो युञ्जन् दोषद‍ृष्टिर्न सज्जते ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

rajas-tamobhyāṁ yad api vidvān vikṣipta-dhīḥ punaḥ atandrito mano yuñjan doṣa-dṛṣṭir na sajjate

Translation

രജസും തമസും മൂലം പണ്ഡിതന്റെ ബുദ്ധിയും ചിതറാം; എങ്കിലും അവൻ അലസതയില്ലാതെ വീണ്ടും മനസ്സിനെ നിയന്ത്രണത്തിൽ ചേർക്കണം. ഗുണങ്ങളുടെ മലിനത വ്യക്തമായി കണ്ടാൽ അവൻ ആസക്തനാകുന്നില്ല.

Synonyms

• rajaḥ-tamobhyām: by rajas and tamas
• rajaḥ-tamobhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajas + tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Dual (द्विवचन); dvandva: ‘by rajas and tamas’

• yat: although
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Concessive relative particle in combination (यद् अपि = ‘although’)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) ‘even/also’

• vidvān: a wise man
• vidvān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक; from √vid)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vikṣipta-dhīḥ: with distracted understanding
• vikṣipta-dhīḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikṣipta + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Feminine (common usage), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘one whose intellect is distracted’

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kāla/Anuvṛtti (काल/अनुवृत्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘again’

• atandritaḥ: unwearied; vigilant
• atandritaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + tandrita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• manaḥ: the mind
• manaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• yuñjan: engaging; yoking (it)
• yuñjan: Karta (कर्ता) (participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yuj (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• doṣa-dṛk: seeing the faults
• doṣa-dṛk: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: doṣa + dṛś (प्रातिपदिक: dṛk)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘one who sees faults (in sense objects)’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• sajjate: becomes attached
• sajjate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saj (धातu)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about overcoming rajas and tamas?

This verse explains that even if passion and ignorance disturb the mind again, a wise person does not fall into attachment because he stays vigilant, re-engages the mind in disciplined practice, and remembers the defects of material enjoyment.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize vigilance (atandrita) in spiritual life?

Because the lower modes can reappear even in a learned person; constant alertness and re-yoking the mind to spiritual practice prevents relapse into attachment.

Practical application of seeing the faults (doṣa-dṛṣṭi) in modern life?

Regularly reflect on how uncontrolled sense pleasure produces anxiety, bondage, and dissatisfaction; then deliberately redirect the mind to sādhana—hearing, chanting, and disciplined habits—so attraction to harmful pleasures weakens.