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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 12: Beyond Renunciation and Knowledge
11.12.2111.12.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 11.12.22-23

Ūti· What drives us to act

द्वे अस्य बीजे शतमूलस्त्रिनाल:

पञ्चस्कन्ध: पञ्चरसप्रसूति: ।

दशैकशाखो द्विसुपर्णनीड-

स्त्रिवल्कलो द्विफलोऽर्कं प्रविष्ट: ॥ २२ ॥

अदन्ति चैकं फलमस्य गृध्रा

ग्रामेचरा एकमरण्यवासा: ।

हंसा य एकं बहुरूपमिज्यै-

र्मायामयं वेद स वेद वेदम् ॥ २३ ॥

dve asya bīje śata-mūlas tri-nālaḥ

pañca-skandhaḥ pañca-rasa-prasūtiḥ

daśaika-śākho dvi-suparṇa-nīḍas

tri-valkalo dvi-phalo ’rkaṁ praviṣṭaḥ

adanti caikaṁ phalam asya gṛdhrā

grāme-carā ekam araṇya-vāsāḥ

haṁsā ya ekaṁ bahu-rūpam ijyair

māyā-mayaṁ veda sa veda vedam

Translation

This tree of material existence has two seeds, hundreds of roots, three lower trunks and five upper trunks. It produces five flavors and has eleven branches and a nest made by two birds. The tree is covered by three types of bark, gives two fruits and extends up to the sun. Those lusty after material enjoyment and dedicated to family life enjoy one of the tree’s fruits, and swanlike men in the renounced order of life enjoy the other fruit. One who with the help of the bona fide spiritual masters can understand this tree to be a manifestation of the potency of the one Supreme Truth appearing in many forms actually knows the meaning of the Vedic literature.

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.

Understand Material Existence Through Spiritual Guidance

  1. 1

    Sinful and pious activities are the tree's two seeds, and innumerable material desires are its roots. Its trunks represent the modes and gross elements, while its branches represent the senses and mind.

  2. 2

    The individual soul and the Supersoul are the two birds in this tree, whose fruits are happiness and distress. Those pursuing material enjoyment taste unhappiness, while those who renounce material goals for spiritual enlightenment taste happiness.

  3. 3

    With the help of bona fide spiritual masters, one understands this tree as the external potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vedic rituals or speculation do not bring perfection without knowledge of the Supreme Lord as the ultimate cause of everything.

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.