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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
11.10.3211.10.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.10.33

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

यावदस्यास्वतन्त्रत्वं तावदीश्वरतो भयम् ।

य एतत् समुपासीरंस्ते मुह्यन्ति शुचार्पिता: ॥ ३३ ॥

yāvad asyāsvatantratvaṁ

tāvad īśvarato bhayam

ya etat samupāsīraṁs

te muhyanti śucārpitāḥ

Translation

The conditioned soul who remains dependent on fruitive activities under the material modes of nature will continue to fear Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, since I impose the results of one’s fruitive activities. Those who accept the material concept of life, taking the variegatedness of the modes of nature to be factual, devote themselves to material enjoyment and are therefore always absorbed in lamentation and grief.

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.

False Independence Brings Fear and Grief

  1. 1

    The conditioned soul remains afraid of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who imposes the results of fruitive activities. Although aware of dependence on superior powers, the soul does not want to serve the Supreme Lord.

  2. 2

    Māyā first covers the living entity, taking away discrimination, and then throws him into ignorance. Thinking himself independent of Lord Kṛṣṇa, he seeks enjoyment in temporary material objects.

  3. 3

    The conditioned soul imagines that he controls his life, although he lacks actual controlling potency. As time takes away his possessions, he becomes filled with fear, anxiety and lamentation.

Key points from the purport
  • Remaining addicted to the flavors of material nature, one gradually sinks down into an irrational form of life.
  • When one wrongly considers oneself to be independent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, one becomes a worshiper of temporary material objects, hoping to enjoy material sense gratification, and as one grows older, one’s life becomes filled with fear and anxiety.
  • All in all, material life is truly abominable, and it is only because of dense illusion that we accept it as satisfactory.

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:

After one’s enjoyment is finished, one must return to this mortal sphere to partake of lamentation and suffering. On the path of materialism there is certainly no uninterrupted or natural happiness.
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. asyaof the living being
  3. asvatantratvamthere is no freedom from dependence on the modes of nature
  4. tāvatthen there will be
  5. īśvarataḥfrom the supreme controller
  6. bhayamfear
  7. yethose who
  8. etatto this material concept of life
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”, “māyā”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.10

    In this verse: “fear”, “afraid”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 11.10

    In this verse: “lamentation”

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

Does fear of losing a material arrangement reveal where I am imagining myself independent of Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

When one worry about a possession arises today, pause to acknowledge your dependence on Lord Kṛṣṇa and your need to serve Him.

5

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.10's connections

Live this todayFalse Independence Brings Fear and GriefThis 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 11.10.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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