FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.26.28

यद्विदुर्ह्यनिरुद्धाख्यं हृषीकाणामधीश्वरम् । शारदेन्दीवरश्यामं संराध्यं योगिभि: शनै: ॥ २८ ॥
yad vidur hy aniruddhākhyaṁ
[yad vidur hy aniruddhaakhyam]
hṛṣīkāṇām adhīśvaram
[hrisheekaanaam adheeshvaram]
śāradendīvara-śyāmaṁ
[shaaradendeevara-shyaamam]
saṁrādhyaṁ yogibhiḥ śanaiḥ
[samraadhyam yogibhih shanaih]
yat — which mind viduḥ — is known hi — indeed aniruddha-ākhyam — by the name Aniruddha hṛṣīkāṇām — of the senses adhīśvaram — the supreme ruler śārada — autumnal indīvara — like a blue lotus śyāmam — bluish saṁrādhyam — who is found yogibhiḥ — by the yogīs śanaiḥ — gradually.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yad vidur hy aniruddhākhyaṁ
yat
which mind
viduḥ
is known
hṛṣīkāṇām adhīśvaram
hi
indeed
śāradendīvara-śyāmaṁ
saṁrādhyaṁ yogibhiḥ śanaiḥ
aniruddha-ākhyam
by the name Aniruddha
hṛṣīkāṇām
of the senses
adhīśvaram
the supreme ruler
śārada
autumnal
indīvara
like a blue lotus
śyāmam
bluish
saṁrādhyam
who is found
yogibhiḥ
by the yogīs
śanaiḥ
gradually.
The mind of the living entity is known by the name of Lord Aniruddha, the supreme ruler of the senses. He possesses a bluish-black form resembling a lotus flower growing in the autumn. He is found slowly by the yogīs.

The system of yoga entails controlling the mind, and the Lord of the mind is Aniruddha. It is stated that Aniruddha is four-handed, with Sudarśana cakra, conchshell, club and lotus flower. There are twenty-four forms of Viṣṇu, each differently named. Among these twenty-four forms, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Aniruddha, Pradyumna and Vāsudeva are depicted very nicely in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, where it is stated that Aniruddha is worshiped by the yogīs. Meditation upon voidness is a modern invention of the fertile brain of some speculator. Actually the process of yoga meditation, as prescribed in this verse, should be fixed upon the form of Aniruddha. By meditating on Aniruddha one can become free from the agitation of acceptance and rejection. When one’s mind is fixed upon Aniruddha, one gradually becomes God-realized; he approaches the pure status of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which is the ultimate goal of yoga.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
In the mind is situated the Lord known as Aniruddha, master of the senses, having the complexion of a blue lotus, worshipped quietly by the yogīs. Yat means “within which is situated.”
Mind and senses, left ungoverned, will quietly run a life into the ground. The verse implies that small daily regulation is more powerful than occasional dramatic resolve.
Reflection Questions
  • What is your mind feeding on most often, and how is that diet shaping your devotion?
  • What would it look like to lead the mind, gently, the way you would lead a child?
📝 My note

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