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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 14: Lord Kṛṣṇa Explains the Yoga System to Śrī Uddhava
11.14.911.14.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.14.10

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.14.3inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

धर्ममेके यशश्चान्ये कामं सत्यं दमं शमम् ।

अन्ये वदन्ति स्वार्थं वा ऐश्व‍‍र्यं त्यागभोजनम् ।

केचिद् यज्ञं तपो दानं व्रतानि नियमान् यमान् ॥ १० ॥

dharmam eke yaśaś cānye

kāmaṁ satyaṁ damaṁ śamam

anye vadanti svārthaṁ vā

aiśvaryaṁ tyāga-bhojanam

kecid yajñaṁ tapo dānaṁ

vratāni niyamān yamān

Translation

Some say that people will be happy by performing pious religious activities. Others say that happiness is attained through fame, sense gratification, truthfulness, self-control, peace, self-interest, political influence, opulence, renunciation, consumption, sacrifice, penance, charity, vows, regulated duties or strict disciplinary regulation. Each process has its proponents.

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.

Examining Competing Promises of Happiness

  1. 1

    Some recommend pious activities and skillful use of the laws of karma to remain materially well situated. Others seek fame or sense gratification.

  2. 2

    Honesty, self-control, peace of mind, law, order and political influence are also proposed as the highest good.

  3. 3

    Some recommend giving possessions away, while others recommend enjoying life as much as possible. Rituals, vows and penances also have their proponents and supporting texts.

Key points from the purport
  • Some people state that the highest virtue in life is honesty; others say it is self-control, peace of mind and so on.
  • Others say that law, order and morality are the highest good, whereas still others propose political influence as the real self-interest of human beings.
  • Some state that one should give away one’s material possessions to the needy; others state that one should try to enjoy this life as far as possible; and others recommend daily rituals, disciplinary vows, penances, and so on.

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 14: Lord Kṛṣṇa Explains the Yoga System to Śrī Uddhava

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Because the living entity, bewildered by illusion, is incapable of ascertaining his eternal benefit, he mistakenly identifies ordinary vows of penance, austerity, etc., to be the topmost spiritual practice. But the only true means of achieving happiness is to meditate on offering everything to the Supreme Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dharmampious activities
  2. ekesome people
  3. yaśaḥfame
  4. caalso
  5. anyeothers
  6. kāmamsense gratification
  7. satyamtruthfulness
  8. damamself-control
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.14

    In this verse: “religious”, “duties”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.14

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “materially”

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 proposed source of happiness most strongly shapes my daily choices?

Practice

Write down one thing you pursued for happiness today and identify which viewpoint in this verse it resembles.

Live this todayExamining Competing Promises of HappinessThis 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 11.14.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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