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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
11.17.3211.17.34-35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.17.33

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

स्‍त्रीणां निरीक्षणस्पर्शसंलापक्ष्वेलनादिकम् ।

प्राणिनो मिथुनीभूतानगृहस्थोऽग्रतस्त्यजेत् ॥ ३३ ॥

strīṇāṁ nirīkṣaṇa-sparśa-

saṁlāpa-kṣvelanādikam

prāṇino mithunī-bhūtān

agṛhastho ’gratas tyajet

Translation

Those who are not married — sannyāsīs, vānaprasthas and brahmacārīs — should never associate with women by glancing, touching, conversing, joking or sporting. Neither should they ever associate with any living entity engaged in sexual activities.

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.

Protect Celibacy Through Careful Association

  1. 1

    For sannyāsīs, vānaprasthas and brahmacārīs, the verse prescribes avoiding association with women through glancing, touching, conversing, joking or sporting.

  2. 2

    Those practicing celibacy should avoid sexually stimulating entertainment and should not watch any living entity engaged in sexual activity. The purport includes birds, insects and human beings in this restriction.

  3. 3

    The purport warns that joking can create an intimate, sexually charged atmosphere. Even a householder attached to such activities can fall into the darkness of ignorance.

Key points from the purport
  • Among most species of life, sexual intercourse is preceded by diverse mating rituals.
  • One who is not married — a sannyāsī, brahmacārī or vānaprastha — should rigidly avoid anything related to sex and of course should never see any living entity, whether bird, insect or human, engaging in the various phases of sexual intercourse.
  • Even a householder who becomes attached to such activities will also fall down into the darkness of ignorance.

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:

For brahmacārīs, seeing or touching women, and conversations or sports in the company of women, are absolutely disallowed. Cleanliness and ritual purification by water should be observed by members of all the spiritual orders of society.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. strīṇāmin relation to women
  2. nirīkṣaṇaglancing
  3. sparśatouching
  4. saṁlāpaconversing
  5. kṣvelanajoking or sporting
  6. ādikamand so on
  7. prāṇinaḥliving entities
  8. mithunī-bhūtānengaged in sex
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “attached”, “householder”

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 entertainment choices make it harder for you to maintain your intended restraint?

Practice

Avoid one sexually stimulating book, song or film today.

Live this todayProtect Celibacy Through Careful AssociationThis 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 11.17.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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