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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.
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Canto 11 · Chapter 10: The Nature of Fruitive Activity
11.10.2511.10.27-29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.10.26

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.10.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

तावत् स मोदते स्वर्गे यावत् पुण्यं समाप्यते ।

क्षीणपुण्य: पतत्यर्वागनिच्छन् कालचालित: ॥ २६ ॥

tāvat sa modate svarge

yāvat puṇyaṁ samāpyate

kṣīṇa-puṇyaḥ pataty arvāg

anicchan kāla-cālitaḥ

Translation

Until his pious results are used up, the performer of sacrifice enjoys life in the heavenly planets. When the pious results are exhausted, however, he falls down from the pleasure gardens of heaven, being moved against his desire by the force of eternal time.

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.

Time Ends Heavenly Enjoyment

  1. 1

    The performer of sacrifice enjoys heaven only as long as his accumulated pious results remain.

  2. 2

    When those results are exhausted, he falls from the heavenly pleasure gardens.

  3. 3

    Eternal time moves him downward against his desire. Wanting to remain cannot preserve his heavenly position.

How it feels

Uncertainty → Clarity. The coming separation makes the instruction personally urgent.

Chapters 10–20 of Canto 11: Kṛṣṇa's teachings on self, yoga and wisdom. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 10: The Nature of Fruitive Activity

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The pleasures of heaven and other destinations, which are achieved by sacrificial rituals, can be experienced for only a short time. After one’s enjoyment is finished, one must return to this mortal sphere to partake of lamentation and suffering.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tāvatthat long
  2. saḥhe
  3. modateenjoys life
  4. svargein the heavenly planets
  5. yāvatuntil
  6. puṇyamhis pious results
  7. samāpyateare used up
  8. kṣīṇaexhausted
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

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

What temporary enjoyment am I hoping to preserve simply because I do not want it to end?

Practice

Write down one temporary comfort and reflect briefly that desire alone cannot protect it from time.

Live this todayTime Ends Heavenly EnjoymentThis 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 11.10.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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