Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 22

Karma, Jñāna, and Bhakti: Vedic Dharma, Piety and Sin, and the Boat of Human Life

Devanagari script

साङ्ख्येन सर्वभावानां प्रतिलोमानुलोमत: । भवाप्ययावनुध्यायेन्मनो यावत् प्रसीदति ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

sāṅkhyena sarva-bhāvānāṁ pratilomānulomataḥ bhavāpyayāv anudhyāyen mano yāvat prasīdati

Translation

在心尚未安住于灵性满足之前，应以数论（Sāṅkhya）分析观照一切物质法的无常，或顺行或逆行；恒常观察自然的渐进生起之造化，以及逆向归灭之毁灭过程。

Synonyms

• साङ्ख्येन: by Sāṅkhya (analysis)
• साङ्ख्येन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साङ्ख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे साधारणतः नपुंसक), तृतीया, एकवचन; साधनार्थे

• सर्वभावानाम्: of all states/conditions
• सर्वभावानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-भाव (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (सर्वे भावाः)

• प्रतिलोमानुलोमतः: in reverse and forward order
• प्रतिलोमानुलोमतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; manner adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रतिलोम-अनुलोम (प्रातिपदिक; प्रतिलोम + अनुलोम)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययप्रयोगः (in reverse and in forward order)

• भवाप्ययौ: creation and dissolution
• भवाप्ययौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव-अप्यय (प्रातिपदिक; भव + अप्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• अनुध्यायेत्: should contemplate
• अनुध्यायेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मनः: the mind
• मनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यावत्: until
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; limit marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधि-अव्यय (until/as long as)

• प्रसीदति: becomes calm/settled
• प्रसीदति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-सीद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Purport

There is a saying that whatever goes up must come down. Similarly, Lord Kṛṣṇa states in the Bhagavad-gītā (2.27) :

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about calming the mind through Sankhya?

This verse teaches that by Sāṅkhya-style analysis—contemplating how all experiences arise and dissolve (in forward and reverse order)—the mind becomes pacified and clear.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava Gītā, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on practical methods for inner steadiness and liberation; here He recommends analytical contemplation of creation and dissolution to loosen attachment and शांत (peace) the mind.

Practical application of contemplating creation and dissolution in modern life?

Notice how emotions, thoughts, and situations arise and pass; repeatedly reflecting on their impermanence reduces anxiety and attachment, bringing mental clarity and steadiness.