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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 13: The Haṁsa-avatāra Answers the Questions of the Sons of Brahmā
11.13.111.13.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.13.2

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.13.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

सत्त्वाद् धर्मो भवेद् वृद्धात् पुंसो मद्भ‍‍‍क्तिलक्षण: ।

सात्त्विकोपासया सत्त्वं ततो धर्म: प्रवर्तते ॥ २ ॥

sattvād dharmo bhaved vṛddhāt

puṁso mad-bhakti-lakṣaṇaḥ

sāttvikopāsayā sattvaṁ

tato dharmaḥ pravartate

Translation

When the living entity becomes strongly situated in the mode of goodness, then religious principles, characterized by devotional service to Me, become prominent. One can strengthen the mode of goodness by cultivation of those things that are already situated in goodness, and thus religious principles arise.

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.

Goodness Finds Its Purpose in Devotion

  1. 1

    Choosing food, attitudes, work and recreation in goodness strengthens that mode. Strengthened goodness gives rise to religious principles.

  2. 2

    The usefulness of goodness is that it supports devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Without that service, goodness remains another aspect of material illusion.

  3. 3

    Goodness should grow to full maturity as viśuddha-sattva, purified goodness. On that platform, one can understand one’s eternal loving relationship with Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa here explains how one can be strongly fixed in the mode of goodness, which automatically gives rise to religious principles.
  • The usefulness of sattva-guṇa, or the mode of goodness, is that it produces religious principles aimed at and characterized by devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • Without such devotional service to the Lord, the mode of goodness is considered useless and merely another aspect of material illusion.

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 13: The Haṁsa-avatāra Answers the Questions of the Sons of Brahmā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

By associating with things in the mode of goodness, one becomes more fully situated in that mode. The three modes increase their different influences through various types of scripture, water, place, time, beneficiaries of activity, natures of activity, birth, meditation, mantras, purificatory rituals, and so on.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sattvātfrom the mode of goodness
  2. dharmaḥreligious principles
  3. bhavetarise
  4. vṛddhātwhich are strengthened
  5. puṁsaḥof a person
  6. mat-bhaktiby devotional service to Me
  7. lakṣaṇaḥcharacterized
  8. sāttvikaof things in the mode of goodness
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 11.13

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.13

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.13

    In this verse: “illusion”, “material”

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

Are my choices in goodness helping me develop devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Review one choice of recreation today and choose something that supports your devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGoodness Finds Its Purpose in DevotionThis 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 11.13.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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