Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 23

Vānaprastha-vidhi and Sannyāsa-dharma: Austerity, Detachment, and the Paramahaṁsa Ideal

Devanagari script

तस्मान्नियम्य षड्‍वर्गं मद्भ‍ावेन चरेन्मुनि: । विरक्त: क्षुद्रकामेभ्यो लब्ध्वात्मनि सुखं महत् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

tasmān niyamya ṣaḍ-vargaṁ mad-bhāvena caren muniḥ viraktaḥ kṣudra-kāmebhyo labdhvātmani sukhaṁ mahat

Translation

Vì vậy, bậc hiền triết hãy hoàn toàn chế ngự các giác quan và tâm (lục căn) bằng ý thức Kṛṣṇa. Lìa bỏ dục lạc nhỏ nhoi, người ấy nếm an lạc lớn lao trong tự ngã.

Synonyms

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga/napuṁsaka, Pañcamī vibhakti (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; used adverbially: ‘therefore/from that’

• niyamya: having restrained
• niyamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√yam (नि + यम् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यबन्त), ‘having restrained’

• ṣaḍ-vargam: the sixfold group (six enemies, etc.)
• ṣaḍ-vargam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ + varga (षट् संख्या + वर्ग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; द्विगु-समास: षण्णां वर्गः ‘the group of six’

• mat-bhāvena: by devotion to Me
• mat-bhāvena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad + bhāva (मद् सर्वनाम + भाव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; समास: मद्भावः ‘devotion/attitude toward Me’; instrumental of means

• caret: he should practice/wander
• caret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (चर् धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• muniḥ: the sage
• muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• viraktaḥ: detached
• viraktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: virakta (वि√रञ्ज् धातु > विरक्त, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally: ‘dispassionate’

• kṣudra-kāmebhyaḥ: from petty desires
• kṣudra-kāmebhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣudra + kāma (क्षुद्र प्रातिपदिक + काम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Pañcamī (5th), Bahuvacana; कर्मधारय: क्षुद्राः कामाः; ablative: ‘from petty desires’

• labdhvā: having obtained
• labdhvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (लभ् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having obtained’

• ātmani: in the self
• ātmani: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (आत्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana

• sukham: happiness
• sukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (महत् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; adjective qualifying sukham

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about controlling the six enemies (ṣaḍ-varga)?

This verse teaches that a sage should restrain the sixfold urges/enemies and then live in devotion to Kṛṣṇa; such control leads to detachment from small desires and to great inner happiness.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in the Uddhava Gita (Canto 11)?

Kṛṣṇa is instructing Uddhava on the path of renunciation supported by bhakti—showing that true sannyāsa is not mere external withdrawal, but mastery over inner impulses and steady God-centered living.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Practice restraint over impulsive habits (desire, anger, greed, etc.), simplify wants, and align daily actions with devotion—through remembrance of Kṛṣṇa, prayer, and disciplined conduct—so that deeper, steadier happiness arises from within.