Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 16

Jaḍa Bharata Instructs King Rahūgaṇa: The Mind as Bondage and the Two Kṣetrajñas

Devanagari script

न यावदेतन्मन आत्मलिङ्गं संसारतापावपनं जनस्य । यच्छोकमोहामयरागलोभ- वैरानुबन्धं ममतां विधत्ते ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

na yāvad etan mana ātma-liṅgaṁ saṁsāra-tāpāvapanaṁ janasya yac choka-mohāmaya-rāga-lobha- vairānubandhaṁ mamatāṁ vidhatte

Translation

Tâm trí là dấu hiệu bản ngã (ātmaliṅga) của linh hồn và là nguyên nhân của mọi khổ não trong luân hồi. Chừng nào chúng sinh còn không biết điều này, chừng ấy còn chịu cảnh khổ của thân và lang thang trong vũ trụ; vì tâm bị nhuốm bệnh tật, sầu muộn, mê lầm, chấp trước, tham lam và thù hận, nên tạo trói buộc và cảm giác thân thuộc giả dối.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• yāvat: until
• yāvat: Avadhi (अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; यावत्-पर्यन्त (until/as long as)

• etat: this
• etat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र विशेषणम् (manaḥ)

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ātma-liṅgam: the sign/mark of the self
• ātma-liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः आत्मनः लिङ्गम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• saṁsāra-tāpa-avapanam: the remover of the heat of saṁsāra
• saṁsāra-tāpa-avapanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṁsāra + tāpa + avapana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः संसारस्य तापस्य अवपनम् (बहु-षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• janasya: of a person/of people
• janasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun) — ‘which/that’ (refers to manaḥ/ātma-liṅgam)

• śoka-moha-āmaya-rāga-lobha-vaira-anubandham: the chain/attachment to sorrow, delusion, disease, passion, greed, and enmity
• śoka-moha-āmaya-rāga-lobha-vaira-anubandham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoka + moha + āmaya + rāga + lobha + vaira + anubandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘(शोकादीनां) वैरस्य अनुबन्धः’/‘शोक-मोह-आमय-राग-लोभ-वैरैः अनुबन्धः’ (सम्बन्ध/हेतु-भाव)

• mamatām: possessiveness/‘mine’-ness
• mamatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mamatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vidhatte: produces/causes
• vidhatte: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘arranges/produces/causes’

Purport

The mind is the cause of both material bondage and liberation. The impure mind thinks, “I am this body.” The pure mind knows that he is not the material body; therefore the mind is considered to be the root of all material designations. Until the living entity is aloof from the association and contaminations of this material world, the mind will be absorbed in such material things as birth, death, disease, illusion, attachment, greed and enmity. In this way the living entity is conditioned, and he suffers material miseries.

Characters & Entities

• Jaḍa Bharata
• King Rahūgaṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the mind as the cause of bondage?

This verse explains that the mind plants the seeds of saṁsāra by generating lamentation, illusion, attachment, greed, and enmity, culminating in possessiveness (‘mine’), which keeps one bound.

Why did Jaḍa Bharata say this to King Rahūgaṇa?

Jaḍa Bharata instructs Rahūgaṇa that real suffering is not external hardship but the mind’s creation of possessiveness and passions; understanding this is essential for spiritual liberation.

Practical application of giving up ‘mine’-consciousness in modern life?

Reduce possessiveness by seeing relationships and resources as entrusted by the Lord, not owned by the ego—this weakens greed, rivalry, and anxiety and supports steady devotional practice.