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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 17

Guṇa-viveka, Haṁsa-gītā, and the Yoga that Cuts False Ego

सनकादय ऊचु: गुणेष्वाविशते चेतो गुणाश्चेतसि च प्रभो । कथमन्योन्यसन्त्यागो मुमुक्षोरतितितीर्षो: ॥ १७ ॥

sanakādaya ūcuḥ guṇeṣv āviśate ceto guṇāś cetasi ca prabho katham anyonya-santyāgo mumukṣor atititīrṣoḥ

以萨那迦为首的圣贤说道:主啊,心自然趋入诸境(诸“德”与感官对象),而诸境亦以欲望之形进入心中。故求解脱、欲越过感官享乐之行者,如何能断除心与境对象之间这相互牵连?愿为我等开示。

सनक-आदयःSanaka and others
सनक-आदयः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootसनक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष: 'सनकः आदिः येषां ते'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
ऊचुःsaid
ऊचुः:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√वच् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
गुणेषुin the qualities (guṇas)
गुणेषु:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootगुण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन
आविशतेenters; becomes absorbed
आविशते:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootआ-√विश् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
चेतःthe mind
चेतः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootचेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
गुणाःthe qualities
गुणाः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject—of implied verb ‘enter’)
TypeNoun
Rootगुण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
चेतसिin the mind
चेतसि:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootचेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
and
:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय—समुच्चय (conjunction)
प्रभोO Lord
प्रभो:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन
कथम्how?
कथम्:
Prashna (प्रश्न)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय—प्रश्नार्थ क्रियाविशेषण (interrogative adverb)
अन्योन्य-सन्त्यागःmutual renunciation (of each other)
अन्योन्य-सन्त्यागः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject—of implied ‘is possible’)
TypeNoun
Rootअन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्त्याग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष: 'अन्योन्यस्य सन्त्यागः' (mutual abandonment); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
मुमुक्षोःof one desiring liberation
मुमुक्षोः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootमुमुक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
अतितितीर्षोःof one eager to cross beyond
अतितितीर्षोः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootअति-√तॄ (धातु) → अतितितीर्षु (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative/intentive agent-noun)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; इच्छार्थक (one wishing to cross beyond)

As described above, as long as one is a conditioned soul the modes of material nature, manifested in the form of sense objects, constantly disturb the mind, and by their harassment one is deprived of the actual perfection of life.

S
Sanaka
K
Kumāras
B
Bhagavān (the Lord)

FAQs

This verse states that the mind immerses itself in the material modes, and the modes in turn occupy the mind—showing a reciprocal entanglement that binds the seeker unless transcended.

In the Hamsa-guhya-yoga teachings, the Kumāras seek a practical method for liberation; they ask how a mumukṣu can break the mutual dependence between mind and guṇas to cross beyond saṁsāra.

Notice which modes shape your thoughts and habits, then deliberately cultivate sāttvika choices and steady devotional practices (hearing, chanting, remembrance) to loosen the mind’s automatic absorption in the guṇas.