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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
11.10.411.10.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.10.5

Mukti· Liberation
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

यमानभीक्ष्णं सेवेत नियमान् मत्पर: क्व‍‍चित् ।

मदभिज्ञं गुरुं शान्तमुपासीत मदात्मकम् ॥ ५ ॥

yamān abhīkṣṇaṁ seveta

niyamān mat-paraḥ kvacit

mad-abhijñaṁ guruṁ śāntam

upāsīta mad-ātmakam

Translation

One who has accepted Me as the supreme goal of life should strictly observe the scriptural injunctions forbidding sinful activities and, as far as possible, should execute the injunctions prescribing minor regulative duties such as cleanliness. Ultimately, however, one should approach a bona fide spiritual master who is full in knowledge of Me as I am, who is peaceful, and who by spiritual elevation is not different from Me.

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.

Preserve Purity and Seek Genuine Guidance

  1. 1

    Major regulative principles must be observed even in difficult circumstances. These include avoiding meat, fish, eggs, intoxication, gambling and illicit sex.

  2. 2

    Minor regulations, such as bathing three times daily, should be followed as far as possible. Difficulty in observing these is not the same as engaging in forbidden activities.

  3. 3

    Rules alone cannot give spiritual perfection; one must approach a bona fide spiritual master who knows the Lord’s personal form. Such a master controls his senses, is peaceful and is nondifferent from the Lord through complete surrender to His mission.

Key points from the purport
  • But if one engages in sinful, forbidden activities, even in difficult circumstances, there undoubtedly will be a spiritual falldown.
  • One must approach a bona fide spiritual master who is mad-abhijñam, or in full knowledge of the personal form of Godhead.
  • The word mat (“Me”) negates the possibility of a bona fide spiritual master having an impersonal conception of the Absolute Truth.

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

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.9.31

Thus, one should not misunderstand the meaning of this verse in a way contradictory to the Lord’s statement mad-abhijñaṁ guruṁ śāntam upāsīta mad-ātmakam.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 Vaiṣṇava, or one who has taken shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, should observe the rules and regulations found in the Pañcarātra and other revealed scriptures. According to his own natural qualities and work, he should follow the code of varṇāśrama in a spirit free from motivation.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yamānmajor regulative principles, such as not to kill
  2. abhīkṣṇamalways
  3. sevetaone should observe
  4. niyamānminor regulations, such as cleansing the body
  5. mat-paraḥone who is devoted to Me
  6. kvacitas far as possible
  7. mat-abhijñamone who knows Me as I am in My personal form
  8. gurumthe spiritual master
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.10

    In this verse: “duties”, “principles”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.10

    In this verse: “sinful”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.10

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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

How can you value both purity in conduct and the guidance of a qualified spiritual master?

Practice

Identify one situation today in which a major regulative principle could be difficult to maintain, and make a concrete plan to avoid compromising it.

Live this todayPreserve Purity and Seek Genuine GuidanceThis 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 11.10.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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