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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 10: The Nature of Fruitive Activity
11.10.3111.10.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.10.32

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

यावत् स्याद् गुणवैषम्यं तावन्नानात्वमात्मन: ।

नानात्वमात्मनो यावत् पारतन्‍त्र्‍यं तदैव हि ॥ ३२ ॥

yāvat syād guṇa-vaiṣamyaṁ

tāvan nānātvam ātmanaḥ

nānātvam ātmano yāvat

pāratantryaṁ tadaiva hi

Translation

As long as the living entity thinks that the modes of material nature have separate existences, he will be obliged to take birth in many different forms and will experience varieties of material existence. Therefore, the living entity remains completely dependent on fruitive activities under the modes of nature.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

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.

See Everything in Relation to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Forgetfulness of Lord Kṛṣṇa makes one see material varieties as separate states of existence. Attraction to these varieties forces the living entity to experience them in different material bodies.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, is the actual basis of everything. Everything is within Him, and He is within everything.

  3. 3

    A pure devotee sees Kṛṣṇa everywhere and sees the modes of nature as His potency. Unless one gives up the vision of things as separate from Him, one remains caught in fruitive activities.

Key points from the purport
  • The word guṇa-vaiṣamyam indicates forgetfulness of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which causes one to see material varieties as separate states of existence.
  • The living entity, being attracted to material varieties and having faith in them, is forced to experience these varieties in different material bodies, such as those of demigods, pigs, businessmen, insects, and so on.
  • One who does not see Lord Kṛṣṇa will certainly see material variegatedness as the supreme reality.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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 spirit soul who has entered into the material body accepts bodily functions according to the reactions of his own past activities. Therefore, only the bona fide, transcendental spiritual master is capable of demonstrating pure knowledge of the self.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yāvatas long as
  2. syātthere is
  3. guṇaof the modes of material nature
  4. vaiṣamyamseparate existences
  5. tāvatthen there will be
  6. nānātvamdifferent states of existence
  7. ātmanaḥof the soul
  8. nānātvamdifferent states of existence
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.10

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.10

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 do I tend to see as existing independently of Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Choose one thing you encounter today and pause to remember that it depends on Kṛṣṇa and His potency.

Live this todaySee Everything in Relation to KṛṣṇaThis 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 11.10.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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