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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
11.14.5-711.14.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.14.8

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

एवं प्रकृतिवैचित्र्याद् भिद्यन्ते मतयो नृणाम् ।

पारम्पर्येण केषाञ्चित् पाषण्डमतयोऽपरे ॥ ८ ॥

evaṁ prakṛti-vaicitryād

bhidyante matayo nṛṇām

pāramparyeṇa keṣāñcit

pāṣaṇḍa-matayo ’pare

Translation

Thus, due to the great variety of desires and natures among human beings, there are many different theistic philosophies of life, which are handed down through tradition, custom and disciplic succession. There are other teachers who directly support atheistic viewpoints.

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.

Receiving Knowledge Without Distorting Its Conclusion

  1. 1

    Different human desires and natures produce many philosophies, passed down through tradition, custom and disciplic succession. Some teachers directly support atheistic views.

  2. 2

    Those ignorant of the Vedic conclusion may invent unauthorized and ultimately fruitless philosophies. Others directly oppose that conclusion.

  3. 3

    Poisonous trees can draw pure Ganges water through their roots and produce poisonous fruit. Similarly, people can misuse association with Vedic knowledge to produce atheistic or materialistic philosophy.

Key points from the purport
  • The word keṣāñcit refers to those persons in various parts of the world who are ignorant of the Vedic conclusion and thus concoct many unauthorized and ultimately fruitless philosophies of life.
  • Pāṣaṇḍa-matayaḥ refers to those who directly oppose the Vedic conclusion.
  • Similarly, those who are atheistic or demoniac utilize their association with Vedic knowledge to produce the poisonous fruits of atheistic or materialistic philosophy.

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:

Thus different philosophies arose, including various atheistic doctrines. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. prakṛtiof nature or desires
  3. vaicitryātdue to the great variety
  4. bhidyanteare divided
  5. matayaḥphilosophies of life
  6. nṛṇāmamong human beings
  7. pāramparyeṇaby tradition or disciplic succession
  8. keṣāñcitamong some people
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.14

    In this verse: “philosophies”, “knowledge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “materialistic”

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

Am I trying to receive the Vedic conclusion, or reshape it to suit my preferences?

Practice

Choose one spiritual claim you have heard and check whether it faithfully represents the text it claims to explain.

Live this todayReceiving Knowledge Without Distorting Its ConclusionThis 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 11.14.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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