Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 7

Sāṅkhya of Creation and Annihilation

Sarga–Nirodha-viveka

Devanagari script

वैकारिकस्तैजसश्च तामसश्चेत्यहं त्रिवृत् । तन्मात्रेन्द्रियमनसां कारणं चिदचिन्मयः ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

vaikārikas taijasaś ca tāmasaś cety ahaṁ tri-vṛt tan-mātrendriya-manasāṁ kāraṇaṁ cid-acin-mayaḥ

Translation

我执（ahaṅkāra）是感质（tanmātra）、诸根与心（manas）的原因，兼摄灵性与物质，并以三种形态显现：清净型（vaikarika，属善）、炽动型（taijasa，属激）、昏暗型（tāmasa，属暗）。

Synonyms

• vaikārikaḥ: sāttvika (transformational)
• vaikārikaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaikārika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (one mode/type)

• taijasaḥ: rājasa (fiery)
• taijasaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: taijasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• tāmasaḥ: tāmasa (dark)
• tāmasaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-निपात (enumerative/quotative)

• aham: I (ahaṅkāra)
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tri-vṛt: threefold
• tri-vṛt: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛt (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास ('threefold')

• tan-mātra-indriya-manasām: of the tanmātras, senses, and mind
• tan-mātra-indriya-manasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanmātra (प्रातिपदिक) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व समास (copulative: 'of tanmātras, senses, and mind')

• kāraṇam: the cause
• kāraṇam: Samānādhikaraṇa (predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• cit-acit-mayaḥ: consisting of sentient and insentient
• cit-acit-mayaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cit (प्रातिपदिक) + acit (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद + मयट्-प्रत्ययार्थ ('consisting of conscious and unconscious')

Purport

The word cid-acin-maya, “encompassing both spirit and matter,” is significant in this regard. The false ego is the illusory combination of the eternal conscious soul and the temporary unconscious body. Because the spirit soul desires to exploit illicitly the creation of God, he is bewildered by the three modes of nature and assumes an illusory identity within the material world. Struggling to enjoy, he becomes more and more entangled in the complexities of illusion and only increases his anxiety. This hopeless situation can be overcome by taking to pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness, in which the pleasure of the Supreme Lord becomes the only goal of one’s life.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the three kinds of ahankara (false ego)?

This verse explains that false ego is threefold—sattvic (vaikārika), rajasic (taijasa), and tamasic (tāmasa)—and from it evolve the tanmātras, senses, and mind.

Why did Krishna explain the threefold ego to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava-gītā teachings, Kṛṣṇa gives a clear Sāṅkhya-based map of how bondage forms through mind and senses, so Uddhava can cultivate detachment and devotion leading to liberation.

Practical application of understanding ahankara in modern life?

By noticing how identity and reactions shift with goodness, passion, and ignorance, one can reduce ego-driven choices, regulate the senses, and anchor the mind in bhakti and self-awareness.