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Shloka 15

Kapila’s Devotional Sāṅkhya: Sādhu-saṅga, Bhakti-yoga, and Fearlessness in the Supreme Shelter

चेत: खल्वस्य बन्धाय मुक्तये चात्मनो मतम् । गुणेषु सक्तं बन्धाय रतं वा पुंसि मुक्तये ॥ १५ ॥

cetaḥ khalv asya bandhāya muktaye cātmano matam guṇeṣu saktaṁ bandhāya rataṁ vā puṁsi muktaye

Tâm thức của chúng sinh được xem là nguyên nhân của cả trói buộc lẫn giải thoát. Khi tâm ấy bị hấp dẫn bởi các guṇa của tự nhiên vật chất thì là đời sống hữu hạn; nhưng khi chính tâm ấy gắn bó với Bhagavān, Đấng Puruṣa Tối Thượng, thì an trú trong ý thức giải thoát.

cetaḥmind
cetaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootcetas (चेतस् प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
khaluindeed
khalu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkhalu (अव्यय)
FormParticle/emphasis (निपात)
asyaof this (person)
asya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
bandhāyafor bondage
bandhāya:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन/चतुर्थी)
TypeNoun
Rootbandha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose dative
muktayefor liberation
muktaye:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन/चतुर्थी)
TypeNoun
Rootmukti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose dative
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormConjunction (समुच्चय)
ātmanaḥof the self
ātmanaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootātman (आत्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
matamis considered
matam:
Kriyā-pūrakā (क्रियापूरक/प्रेडिकेट)
TypeAdjective
Rootman (मन् धातु) + kta (क्त) / mata (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPast passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate with ‘cetaḥ’ (‘is considered’)
guṇeṣuin the guṇas; in sense-objects/qualities
guṇeṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural
saktamattached
saktam:
Kriyā-pūrakā (क्रियापूरक)
TypeAdjective
Rootsañj (सञ्ज्/सक्त from √sañj) + kta (क्त) / sakta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPast participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; here predicate adjective of ‘cetaḥ’
bandhāyafor bondage
bandhāya:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन/चतुर्थी)
TypeNoun
Rootbandha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose dative
ratamdelighting; engaged
ratam:
Kriyā-pūrakā (क्रियापूरक)
TypeAdjective
Rootram (रम् धातु) + kta (क्त) / rata (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPast participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; predicate adjective of ‘cetaḥ’
or
:
Vikalpa (विकल्प)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvā (अव्यय)
FormDisjunctive particle (विकल्प)
puṁsiin the Puruṣa (Person)
puṁsi:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootpuṁs (पुंस् प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘in the Puruṣa / in the Supreme Person’
muktayefor liberation
muktaye:
Prayojana (प्रयोजन/चतुर्थी)
TypeNoun
Rootmukti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थī), Singular; purpose dative

There is a distinction here between Kṛṣṇa consciousness and māyā consciousness. Guṇeṣu, or māyā consciousness, involves attachment to the three material modes of nature, under which one works sometimes in goodness and knowledge, sometimes in passion and sometimes in ignorance. These different qualitative activities, with the central attachment for material enjoyment, are the cause of one’s conditional life. When the same cetaḥ, or consciousness, is transferred to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, or when one becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious, he is on the path of liberation.

K
Kapila
D
Devahuti

FAQs

Bhagavatam 3.25.15 says the mind binds the soul when attached to the material modes, and liberates when attached to the Supreme Person through devotion.

Kapila instructs His mother Devahuti on bhakti-yoga, explaining that redirecting the mind from guṇas to the Supreme is the key principle behind freedom from material bondage.

Notice what your mind repeatedly clings to, reduce guṇa-driven habits, and deliberately engage the mind in devotion—hearing, chanting, remembering, and serving the Lord—so attachment shifts from material objects to God.