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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
11.17.34-3511.17.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.17.36

Mukti· Liberation
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

एवं बृहद्‍व्रतधरो ब्राह्मणोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन् ।

मद्भ‍क्तस्तीव्रतपसा दग्धकर्माशयोऽमल: ॥ ३६ ॥

evaṁ bṛhad-vrata-dharo

brāhmaṇo ’gnir iva jvalan

mad-bhaktas tīvra-tapasā

dagdha-karmāśayo ’malaḥ

Translation

A brāhmaṇa observing the great vow of celibacy becomes brilliant like fire and by serious austerity burns to ashes the propensity to perform material activities. Free from the contamination of material desire, he becomes My devotee.

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.

Purification Leads to Pure Devotion

  1. 1

    The spirit soul is more brilliant than the sun. As spiritual purification takes effect, even a devotee’s external form becomes effulgent.

  2. 2

    Spiritual knowledge burns the mentality of sense gratification, bringing austerity and disinterest in mundane enjoyment. The purport describes celibacy as the best austerity for loosening the shackles of material life.

  3. 3

    A pure devotee is amala, free from material desire. In pure devotion, the mind is trained to see only the interests of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The spirit soul is more brilliant than the sun, and as the process of spiritual purification gradually takes effect, even the external form of a devotee becomes effulgent.
  • The glowing fire of spiritual knowledge burns to ashes the mentality of sense gratification, and one naturally becomes austere and disinterested in mundane enjoyment.
  • Thus a pure devotee of the Lord is amala, completely pure.

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:

He must regularly perform worship at the three junctures of the day and must render devotional service to his spiritual master in a spirit free from envy. The brahmacārī must offer to the guru whatever food and other things he obtains by begging.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. bṛhat-vratathat great vow of perpetual celibacy
  3. dharaḥmaintaining
  4. brāhmaṇaḥa brāhmaṇa
  5. agniḥfire
  6. ivalike
  7. jvalanbecoming bright
  8. mat-bhaktaḥMy devotee
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “devotee”, “devotion”, “devotee’s”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “contamination”, “purification”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “sense gratification”

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 thinking mainly of my own enjoyment, or of the Lord’s interests?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and consciously make the Lord’s interests your purpose.

Live this todayPurification Leads to Pure DevotionThis 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 11.17.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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