Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 7
Jaḍa Bharata Instructs King Rahūgaṇa: The Mind as Bondage and the Two Kṣetrajñas
तावानयं व्यवहार: सदावि:क्षेत्रज्ञसाक्ष्यो भवति स्थूलसूक्ष्म: । तस्मान्मनो लिङ्गमदो वदन्तिगुणागुणत्वस्य परावरस्य ॥ ७ ॥
tāvān ayaṁ vyavahāraḥ sadāviḥ kṣetrajña-sākṣyo bhavati sthūla-sūkṣmaḥ tasmān mano liṅgam ado vadanti guṇāguṇatvasya parāvarasya
Segala urusan dunia ini berlangsung sentiasa dengan kṣetrajña (ātman) sebagai saksi, dalam bentuk kasar dan halus. Maka para bijaksana berkata: minda itulah linga (tubuh halus); menurut guna dan a-guna, minda menjadi sebab ikatan dan pembebasan.
Just as the mind is the cause of bondage, it can also be the cause of liberation. The mind is described here as para-avara, para means transcendental, and avara means material. When the mind is engaged in the Lord’s service ( sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayoḥ ), it is called para, transcendental. When the mind is engaged in material sense gratification, it is called avara, or material. At the present moment, in our conditioned state, our mind is fully absorbed in material sense gratification, but it can be purified and brought to its original Kṛṣṇa consciousness by the process of devotional service. We have often given the example of Ambarīṣa Mahārāja. Sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayor vacāṁsi vaikuṇṭha-guṇānuvarṇane. The mind must be controlled in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The tongue can be utilized to spread the message of Kṛṣṇa and glorify the Lord or take prasāda, the remnants of food offered to Kṛṣṇa. Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau: when one utilizes the tongue in the service of the Lord, the other senses can become purified. As stated in the Nārada-pañcarātra, sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam: when the mind and senses are purified, one’s total existence is purified, and one’s designations are also purified. One no longer considers himself a human being, a demigod, cat, dog, Hindu, Muslim and so forth. When the senses and mind are purified and one is fully engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s service, one can be liberated and return home, back to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse states that the conscious self (kṣetrajña) remains the witness of all experience—whether gross or subtle—while worldly dealings continue.
To correct Rahūgaṇa’s bodily conception and show that higher and lower states are traced to identification through the mind, not to the true self.
Observe thoughts and emotions without immediately identifying with them; this reduces reactivity and supports spiritual detachment from the modes (guṇas).