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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.
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Canto 11 · Chapter 13: The Haṁsa-avatāra Answers the Questions of the Sons of Brahmā
11.13.2411.13.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.13.25

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.13.18inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → UddhavaLord Haṁsa → the Kumāras

गुणेष्वाविशते चेतो गुणाश्चेतसि च प्रजा: ।

जीवस्य देह उभयं गुणाश्चेतो मदात्मन: ॥ २५ ॥

guṇeṣv āviśate ceto

guṇāś cetasi ca prajāḥ

jīvasya deha ubhayaṁ

guṇāś ceto mad-ātmanaḥ

Translation

My dear sons, the mind has a natural proclivity to enter into the material sense objects, and similarly the sense objects enter into the mind; but both this material mind and the sense objects are merely designations that cover the spirit soul, who is part and parcel of 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.

Recover Your Spiritual Mentality Through Devotion

  1. 1

    The material mind and sense objects naturally attract one another. Both are covering designations imposed upon the eternal spirit soul, who is part and parcel of the Lord.

  2. 2

    The material mind considers itself the ultimate doer and enjoyer. Higher intelligence can recognize this illusion and reject the mentality of exploiting material objects for pleasure and prestige.

  3. 3

    Devotional service to the Lord automatically awakens detachment and spiritual intelligence. By understanding one’s original spiritual form, one becomes properly situated in eternal consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore, You are also the mind and the sense objects, which are the subject matter of our question.
  • The material sense objects always enter into the functions of the mind, and similarly, the mind always enters into the material sense objects.
  • Since both the material mind and sense objects are useless, they both should be completely given up, and thus automatically you will be free from all material duality.”

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:

Yet even Brahmā is always suffering agitation of the mind on account of the duties he has to perform; therefore, when he was questioned by his sons headed by Sanaka, who were born from his mind, about the means for driving away desires for sense gratification, he was incapable of giving them an answer.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. guṇeṣuin the sense objects
  2. āviśateenters
  3. cetaḥthe mind
  4. guṇāḥthe sense objects
  5. cetasiin the mind
  6. caalso (enter)
  7. prajāḥMy dear sons
  8. jīvasyaof the living entity
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.13

    In this verse: “spirit soul”, “understanding”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “illusion”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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

When does my mind treat me as the ultimate doer and enjoyer?

Practice

When a desire for material enjoyment arises today, pause and identify the claim to be the enjoyer; remember that you are part and parcel of the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecover Your Spiritual Mentality Through 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 11.13.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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