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Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 21

Paramparā of the Atharva Veda and Purāṇas; Definition of a Purāṇa

Daśa-lakṣaṇam

विरमेत यदा चित्तं हित्वा वृत्तित्रयं स्वयम् । योगेन वा तदात्मानं वेदेहाया निवर्तते ॥ २१ ॥

virameta yadā cittaṁ hitvā vṛtti-trayaṁ svayam yogena vā tadātmānaṁ vedehāyā nivartate

เมื่อจิต—โดยธรรมชาติหรือด้วยการปฏิบัติโยคะอย่างมีระเบียบ—หยุดจากความเคลื่อนไหวสามประการคือ ตื่น ฝัน และหลับลึก เมื่อนั้นย่อมรู้แจ้งปรมาตมัน และถอนตนจากความเพียรทางวัตถุ

virametamay cease
virameta:
Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Root√ram (रम्) + vi-
Formलोट्-लकार (Imperative/optative-like injunctive usage), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; अर्थः 'let it cease/it should desist'
yadāwhen
yadā:
Kala (काल/Time)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyadā (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb: 'when')
cittammind
cittam:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootcitta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
hitvāhaving abandoned
hitvā:
Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Absolutive—prior action)
TypeVerb
Root√hā (हा) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having abandoned'
vṛtti-trayamthe three functions/modifications
vṛtti-trayam:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootvṛtti (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वृत्तीनां त्रयम्)
svayamby itself
svayam:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsvayam (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; आत्मार्थक (reflexive adverb: 'by itself/oneself')
yogenaby yoga
yogena:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
or
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Alternative)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)
tadātmānamthat Self
tadātmānam:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (तद्-आत्मानम् = 'that Self'/the Supreme Self)
vedeha-āyāḥof the bodiless state
vedeha-āyāḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootvideha (प्रातिपदिक) + āya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'videha-āyāḥ' = 'of disembodiment/state of being without body' (goal-state)
nivartatereturns/withdraws (attains cessation)
nivartate:
Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Root√vṛt (वृत्) + ni-
Formलट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.33) , jarayaty āśu yā kośaṁ nigīrṇam analo yathā: “ Bhakti, devotional service, dissolves the subtle body of the living entity without separate endeavor, just as fire in the stomach digests all that we eat.” The subtle material body is inclined to exploit nature through sex, greed, false pride and madness. Loving service to the Lord, however, dissolves the stubborn false ego and lifts one to pure blissful consciousness, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the sublime perfection of existence.

FAQs

This verse explains that when the mind gives up its threefold material movements and becomes still—naturally or through yoga—one realizes the Self and withdraws from bodily identification.

As Parīkṣit prepared for death and sought the highest good, Śukadeva instructed him on liberation: ending material mental activity and realizing the ātmā, which frees one from embodied existence.

Reduce compulsive mental agitation by disciplined sādhana (regular meditation, japa, and restraint of the senses), aiming to shift identity from the body-mind to the inner Self and devotion to the Supreme.