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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 17: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Description of the Varṇāśrama System
11.17.1411.17.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.17.15

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.17.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

वर्णानामाश्रमाणां च जन्मभूम्यनुसारिणी: ।

आसन् प्रकृतयो नृणां नीचैर्नीचोत्तमोत्तमा: ॥ १५ ॥

varṇānām āśramāṇāṁ ca

janma-bhūmy-anusāriṇīḥ

āsan prakṛtayo nṝnāṁ

nīcair nīcottamottamāḥ

Translation

The various occupational and social divisions of human society appeared according to inferior and superior natures manifest in the situation of the individual’s birth.

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.

Social Positions Are External Designations

  1. 1

    The purport describes brāhmaṇas and sannyāsīs, situated on the Lord’s head, as the most qualified. It describes śūdras and gṛhasthas, situated on His legs or loins, as occupying the lowest position.

  2. 2

    A person is born with a certain amount of intelligence, beauty and social opportunity. These place the person in a particular occupational and social position within varṇāśrama.

  3. 3

    Ultimately, these positions are external designations. Those conditioned by the Lord’s external energy should follow the varṇāśrama divisions until reaching jīvan-mukta, or liberated life.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, the brāhmaṇas and sannyāsīs, being situated on the head of the universal form of the Lord, are considered to be the most qualified, whereas the śūdras and gṛhasthas, being on the legs or loins of the Personality of Godhead, are considered to be in the lowest position.
  • A living entity is born with a certain amount of intelligence, beauty and social opportunity, and he is therefore situated in a particular occupational and social position within the varṇāśrama system.
  • Ultimately, such positions are external designations, but since the majority of human beings are conditioned by the external energy of the Lord, they should act according to the scientific varṇāśrama divisions until they reach the stage of jīvan-mukta, or liberated life.

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 17: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Description of the Varṇāśrama System

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

According to how the social divisions took birth from higher and lower features of the Lord’s body, they became endowed with higher and lower qualities. After this description, Lord Kṛṣṇa explains the natures of persons in each of the four varṇas and of those who are outside the limits of the varṇas.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. varṇānāmof the occupational divisions
  2. āśramāṇāmof the social divisions
  3. caalso
  4. janmaof birth
  5. bhūmithe situation
  6. anusāriṇīḥaccording to
  7. āsanappeared
  8. prakṛtayaḥthe natures
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “varṇāśrama”

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 mistake an external social position for my ultimate identity?

Practice

Write down one social designation you carry, and remind yourself that it is external rather than ultimate.

Live this todaySocial Positions Are External DesignationsThis 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 11.17.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.