FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.7.21

विरमेत यदा चित्तं हित्वा वृत्तित्रयं स्वयम् । योगेन वा तदात्मानं वेदेहाया निवर्तते ॥ २१ ॥
virameta yadā cittaṁ
[virameta yadaa chittam]
hitvā vṛtti-trayaṁ svayam
[hitvaa vritti-trayam svayam]
yogena vā tadātmānaṁ
[yogena vaa tadaatmaanam]
vedehāyā nivartate
[vedehaayaa nivartate]
virameta — desists yadā — when cittam — the mind hitvā — giving up vṛtti-trayam — the functions of material life in the three phases of waking, sleep and deep sleep svayam — automatically yogena — by regulated spiritual practice vā — or tadā — then ātmānam — the Supreme Soul veda — he knows īhāyāḥ — from material endeavor nivartate — he ceases.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
virameta yadā cittaṁ
virameta
desists
yadā
when
cittam
the mind
hitvā vṛtti-trayaṁ svayam
hitvā
giving up
vṛtti-trayam
the functions of material life in the three phases of waking, sleep and deep sleep
svayam
automatically
yogena vā tadātmānaṁ
yogena
by regulated spiritual practice
vā
or
tadā
then
ātmānam
the Supreme Soul
vedehāyā nivartate
veda
he knows
īhāyāḥ
from material endeavor
nivartate
he ceases.
Either automatically or because of one’s regulated spiritual practice, one’s mind may stop functioning on the material platform of waking consciousness, sleep and deep sleep. Then one understands the Supreme Soul and withdraws from material endeavor.

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.33) , jarayaty āśu yā kośaṁ nigīrṇam analo yathā: “ Bhakti, devotional service, dissolves the subtle body of the living entity without separate endeavor, just as fire in the stomach digests all that we eat.” The subtle material body is inclined to exploit nature through sex, greed, false pride and madness. Loving service to the Lord, however, dissolves the stubborn false ego and lifts one to pure blissful consciousness, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the sublime perfection of existence.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
When the mind, gives up the three states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep by bhakti-yoga, and spontaneously enjoys the lotus feet of the Lord, at that time he realizes the Lord and gives up all material desires. Having explained the ten characteristics of a Purāṇa, a verse is given to understand the topic. Similarly it has already been stated: daśamasya viśuddhy-arthaṁ navānām iha lakṣaṇam varṇayanti mahātmānaḥ śrutenārthena cāñjasā The great devotees such as Vidura and Maitreya describe properly the nine topics in order to impart the highest knowledge of the tenth topic, through the words of the scripture and stories to illustrate their meaning. SB 2.10.2 The power of bhakti has already been stated. jarayaty āśu yā kośaṁ nigīrṇam analo yathā That bhakti quickly destroys the subtle body, just as the digestive fire consumes food. SB 3.25.33 Giving up the three states of material consciousness by pure bhakti (yogena) consisting of hearing and chanting, the mind spontaneously becomes detached (virameta) from the guṇas, or the mind take great joy (viśeṣeṇa rameta) spontaneously in lotus feet of the Lord. Or, by aṣṭāṅga-yoga the mind becomes detached and reaches nirvāṇa. At that time the mind realizes Paramātmā (ātmānam) and becomes detached from material desires. (īhāyāḥ).
Either automatically or through practice, the mind may stop functioning on the waking platform. There are natural openings — sleep, dissolution, deep meditation — into something beyond mental activity. Spiritual life learns to use them.
Reflection Questions
  • Have I noticed natural openings in my day where mind softens?
  • How could I use those gaps more devotionally?
📝 My note

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