FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.14

मनो बुद्धिरहङ्कारश्चित्तमित्यन्तरात्मकम् । चतुर्धा लक्ष्यते भेदो वृत्त्या लक्षणरूपया ॥ १४ ॥
mano buddhir ahaṅkāraś
[mano buddhir ahankaarash]
cittam ity antar-ātmakam
[chittam ity antar-aatmakam]
caturdhā lakṣyate bhedo
[chaturdhaa lakshyate bhedo]
vṛttyā lakṣaṇa-rūpayā
[vrittyaa lakshana-roopayaa]
Word-for-word
manaḥ — the mind buddhiḥ — intelligence ahaṅkāraḥ — ego cittam — consciousness iti — thus antaḥ-ātmakam — the internal, subtle senses catuḥ-dhā — having four aspects lakṣyate — is observed bhedaḥ — the distinction vṛttyā — by their functions lakṣaṇa-rūpayā — representing different characteristics.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mano buddhir ahaṅkāraś
manaḥ
the mind
buddhiḥ
intelligence
ahaṅkāraḥ
ego
cittam ity antar-ātmakam
cittam
consciousness
iti
thus
antaḥ-ātmakam
the internal, subtle senses
caturdhā lakṣyate bhedo
catuḥ-dhā
having four aspects
lakṣyate
is observed
bhedaḥ
the distinction
vṛttyā lakṣaṇa-rūpayā
vṛttyā
by their functions
lakṣaṇa-rūpayā
representing different characteristics.
The internal, subtle senses are experienced as having four aspects, in the shape of mind, intelligence, ego and contaminated consciousness. Distinctions between them can be made only by different functions, since they represent different characteristics.
Purport

The four internal senses, or subtle senses, described herein are defined by different characteristics. When pure consciousness is polluted by material contamination and when identification with the body becomes prominent, one is said to be situated under false ego. Consciousness is the function of the soul, and therefore behind consciousness there is soul. Consciousness polluted by material contamination is called ahaṅkāra.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The internal sense organ is divided into four-- the mind, intelligence, ego and citta—because of distinctive functions. [Note: In this analysis mahat-tattva has not been mentioned separated, but can be considered equivalent to citta as explained in verse 21. ] Antar-ātmākam means the antaḥ-karaṇa, the internal sense organ. They are distinguished by separate functions (lakṣana-rūpayā vṛttyā).
Personal Guidance
The verse exposes the fiction of self-made independence. Behind every result we credit to ourselves stands a long chain of help we never planned. The verse anchors this in false ego.
Reflection Questions
  • Where is your pride hiding most successfully — in your spiritual life or in your work?
  • Whose help, regularly, do you accept without acknowledging?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 26