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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
11.14.2911.14.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.14.30

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

न तथास्य भवेत् क्लेशो बन्धश्चान्यप्रसङ्गत: ।

योषित्सङ्गाद् यथा पुंसो यथा तत्सङ्गिसङ्गत: ॥ ३० ॥

na tathāsya bhavet kleśo

bandhaś cānya-prasaṅgataḥ

yoṣit-saṅgād yathā puṁso

yathā tat-saṅgi-saṅgataḥ

Translation

Of all kinds of suffering and bondage arising from various attachments, none is greater than the suffering and bondage arising from attachment to women and intimate contact with those attached to women.

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.

Lustful Association Deepens Suffering and Bondage

  1. 1

    The Lord warns that attachment to women and intimate association with those attached to women bring especially severe suffering and bondage.

  2. 2

    A person may guard against intimate contact with lusty women yet become careless around lusty men. Their mentality can influence ordinary social dealings, making such association especially dangerous.

  3. 3

    Material lust robs a person of gravity, intelligence and direction in life. Giving up lustful intimate association therefore requires great endeavor.

Key points from the purport
  • One should make a great endeavor to give up intimate contact with women and those fond of women.
  • A learned gentleman will automatically be on guard if placed in intimate contact with lusty women.
  • In the company of lusty men, however, the same man may engage in all kinds of social dealings and thus be contaminated by their polluted mentality.

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:

One desiring to attain the perfection of life is advised to give up all material processes of elevation as well as the association of women. He should then merge his mind constantly in thought of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. tathālike that
  3. asyaof him
  4. bhavetcould be
  5. kleśaḥsuffering
  6. bandhaḥbondage
  7. caand
  8. anya-prasaṅgataḥfrom any other attachment
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attachments”, “attachment”, “lusty”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 11.14

    In this verse: “suffering”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.14

    In this verse: “dangerous”

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

Do I overlook conversations or company that strengthen lustful thinking?

Practice

Step away from one conversation or social exchange today that encourages lust.

Live this todayLustful Association Deepens Suffering and BondageThis 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 11.14.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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