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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
11.13.511.13.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.13.6

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

सात्त्विकान्येव सेवेत पुमान् सत्त्वविवृद्धये ।

ततो धर्मस्ततो ज्ञानं यावत् स्मृतिरपोहनम् ॥ ६ ॥

sāttvikāny eva seveta

pumān sattva-vivṛddhaye

tato dharmas tato jñānaṁ

yāvat smṛtir apohanam

Translation

Until one revives one’s direct knowledge of the spirit soul and drives away the illusory identification with the material body and mind caused by the three modes of nature, one must cultivate those things in the mode of goodness. By increasing the mode of goodness, one automatically can understand and practice religious principles, and by such practice transcendental knowledge is awakened.

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.

Cultivate Goodness to Awaken Spiritual Knowledge

  1. 1

    One must cultivate goodness until direct knowledge of the spirit soul awakens and false identification with body and mind is driven away.

  2. 2

    Study scriptures that teach detachment, associate with those cultivating detachment, and use your energy for pious purposes. Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Increasing goodness establishes religious practice, from which spiritual knowledge arises. This knowledge reveals the eternal spirit soul and the Supreme Soul, Lord Kṛṣṇa, freeing one from material designations.

Key points from the purport
  • One should study religious scriptures that teach detachment from mental speculation and material sense gratification, not scriptures that provide rituals and mantras to increase material ignorance.
  • One should not accept initiation or so-called spiritual birth in unauthorized mystical or religious cults in the modes of passion and ignorance.
  • Purificatory rituals should be performed to purify the spirit soul and not to bring down material blessings on one’s material household.

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:

The three modes — goodness, passion and ignorance — are related to material intelligence, not to the soul. One should conquer the lower modes of passion and ignorance by the mode of goodness, and then one must surpass the mode of goodness by acting in the transcendental mode of pure goodness.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sāttvikānithings in the mode of goodness
  2. evaindeed
  3. sevetahe should cultivate
  4. pumāna person
  5. sattvathe mode of goodness
  6. vivṛddhayein order to increase
  7. tataḥfrom that (increase in goodness)
  8. dharmaḥone is fixed in religious principles
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: “knowledge”, “spirit soul”, “understand”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.13

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “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

Which daily habit could better support knowledge of my eternal spiritual identity?

Practice

Set aside a few quiet minutes today to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCultivate Goodness to Awaken Spiritual KnowledgeThis 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 11.13.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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