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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 11 · Chapter 23: The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa
11.23.4611.23.48

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.23.47

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The brāhmaṇasince 11.23.42inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → UddhavaThe Avantī brāhmaṇa → himself

मनोवशेऽन्ये ह्यभवन् स्म देवा

मनश्च नान्यस्य वशं समेति ।

भीष्मो हि देव: सहस: सहीयान्

युञ्ज्याद वशे तं स हि देवदेव: ॥ ४७ ॥

mano-vaśe ’nye hy abhavan sma devā

manaś ca nānyasya vaśaṁ sameti

bhīṣmo hi devaḥ sahasaḥ sahīyān

yuñjyād vaśe taṁ sa hi deva-devaḥ

Translation

All the senses have been under the control of the mind since time immemorial, and the mind himself never comes under the sway of any other. He is stronger than the strongest, and his godlike power is fearsome. Therefore, anyone who can bring the mind under control becomes the master of all the senses.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Master the Mind, Master the Senses

  1. 1

    The senses have been under the mind’s control since time immemorial.

  2. 2

    The mind does not easily submit to another’s control. Its power is described as fearsome and stronger than the strongest.

  3. 3

    Anyone who brings the mind under control becomes the master of all the senses.

How it feels

Striving → Complete devotional trust. The Lord redirects Uddhava toward enduring loving service.

Chapters 21–29 of Canto 11: Spiritual practice culminating in bhakti-yoga. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 23: The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The real purpose of all charity, religiosity and so forth is to bring the mind under control. A person who has already composed his mind in meditation has no need for these other processes, and for a person who is incapable of fixing his mind they are of no practical use.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. manaḥof the mind
  2. vaśeunder the control
  3. anyeothers
  4. hiindeed
  5. abhavanhave become
  6. smain the past
  7. devāḥthe senses (represented by their presiding deities)
  8. manaḥthe mind
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.23

    In this verse: “fearsome”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which sense urge shows me most clearly how strongly the mind directs my actions?

Practice

When one sense urge arises today, pause before acting and notice how the mind is directing it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMaster the Mind, Master the SensesThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 11.23.47? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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