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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
11.14.811.14.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.14.9

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

मन्मायामोहितधिय: पुरुषा: पुरुषर्षभ ।

श्रेयो वदन्त्यनेकान्तं यथाकर्म यथारुचि ॥ ९ ॥

man-māyā-mohita-dhiyaḥ

puruṣāḥ puruṣarṣabha

śreyo vadanty anekāntaṁ

yathā-karma yathā-ruci

Translation

O best among men, the intelligence of human beings is bewildered by My illusory potency, and thus, according to their own activities and whims, they speak in innumerable ways about what is actually good for people.

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.

True Good Beyond Personal Preference

  1. 1

    Bewildered by the Lord’s illusory potency, people speak about what is good according to their own activities and preferences.

  2. 2

    Unlike the Supreme Personality of Godhead, an individual living being is not omniscient. What pleases one person does not represent the whole truth or establish what is best for everyone.

  3. 3

    The best thing for everyone is to surrender to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Through surrender, one realizes one’s eternal nature of bliss and knowledge.

Key points from the purport
  • Unlike the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the individual living entity is not omniscient, therefore his activities and pleasures do not represent the whole truth.
  • According to one’s individual way of doing things (yathā-karma) and one’s personal preference (yathā-ruci), one speaks to others about what is good for them.
  • Actually, the best thing for everyone is to surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, and thus realize one’s eternal nature of bliss and knowledge.

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:

Śrī Uddhava wanted to know which process of spiritual advancement is the best. He also desired to hear about the superexcellence of devotional service free from ulterior motives.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mat-māyāby My illusory potency
  2. mohitabewildered
  3. dhiyaḥthose whose intelligence
  4. puruṣāḥpeople
  5. puruṣa-ṛṣabhaO best among men
  6. śreyaḥwhat is good for people
  7. vadantithey speak
  8. aneka-antamin innumerable ways
  9. yathā-karmaaccording to their own activities
  10. yathā-ruciaccording to what pleases them
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: “knowledge”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.14

    In this verse: “surrender”

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

When do I mistake what suits me for what is truly best for everyone?

Practice

Before giving advice today, pause to distinguish your personal preference from what you actually know.

Live this todayTrue Good Beyond Personal PreferenceThis 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 11.14.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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