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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
11.13.3311.13.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.13.34

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

ईक्षेत विभ्रममिदं मनसो विलासं

द‍ृष्टं विनष्टमतिलोलमलातचक्रम् ।

विज्ञानमेकमुरुधेव विभाति माया

स्वप्नस्‍त्रिधा गुणविसर्गकृतो विकल्प: ॥ ३४ ॥

īkṣeta vibhramam idaṁ manaso vilāsaṁ

dṛṣṭaṁ vinaṣṭam ati-lolam alāta-cakram

vijñānam ekam urudheva vibhāti māyā

svapnas tridhā guṇa-visarga-kṛto vikalpaḥ

Translation

One should see that the material world is a distinct illusion appearing in the mind, because material objects have an extremely flickering existence and are here today and gone tomorrow. They can be compared to the streaking red line created by whirling a fiery stick. The spirit soul by nature exists in the single state of pure consciousness. However, in this world he appears in many different forms and stages of existence. The modes of nature divide the soul’s consciousness into normal wakefulness, dreaming and dreamless sleep. All such varieties of perception, however, are actually māyā and exist only like a dream.

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.

Look Beyond Flickering Material Appearances

  1. 1

    Material objects are here today and gone tomorrow. Their flickering appearance is compared to the red line produced by whirling a fiery stick.

  2. 2

    The material mind jumps superficially from one conception of life to another. The soul’s original consciousness, however, is one.

  3. 3

    The modes of nature produce the varieties of waking, dreaming and deep sleep. Carefully studying their dreamlike, changing nature helps one detach from māyā.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord now describes an additional process for transcending the illusory interaction of the material mind and material sense objects.
  • Lāsa means “jumping” or “dancing,” and thus manaso vilāsam here indicates that the material mind is jumping superficially from one conception of life to another.
  • Therefore, one should carefully study the flickering “here today, gone tomorrow” nature of the material world and detach oneself from the illusory variety of māyā.

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:

Lord Haṁsa proceeded to give instructions about the categorical identity of the self, the different states of consciousness (wakeful awareness, sleep and deep sleep) and the means for conquering over material existence. The sages headed by Sanaka became freed from all their doubts by hearing the words of the Lord and worshiped Him with pure devotion in mature love of God.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. īkṣetaone should see
  2. vibhramamas illusion or mistake
  3. idamthis (material world)
  4. manasaḥof the mind
  5. vilāsamappearance or jumping
  6. dṛṣṭamhere today
  7. vinaṣṭamgone tomorrow
  8. ati-lolamextremely flickering
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “illusion”, “māyā”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “spirit soul”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.13

    In this verse: “detach”

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

Which changing appearance am I treating as something lasting?

Practice

Notice one temporary material thing today and reflect for a minute on its changing nature.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLook Beyond Flickering Material AppearancesThis 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 11.13.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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