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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
11.17.4011.17.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.17.41

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

प्रतिग्रहं मन्यमानस्तपस्तेजोयशोनुदम् ।

अन्याभ्यामेव जीवेत शिलैर्वा दोषद‍ृक् तयो: ॥ ४१ ॥

pratigrahaṁ manyamānas

tapas-tejo-yaśo-nudam

anyābhyām eva jīveta

śilair vā doṣa-dṛk tayoḥ

Translation

A brāhmaṇa who considers that accepting charity from others will destroy his austerity, spiritual influence and fame should maintain himself by the other two brahminical occupations, namely teaching Vedic knowledge and performing sacrifice. If the brāhmaṇa considers that those two occupations also compromise his spiritual position, then he should collect rejected grains in agricultural fields and live without any dependence on others.

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.

Trust the Lord Without Compromising Service

  1. 1

    A brāhmaṇa should give up accepting charity if it weakens his austerity, spiritual influence or reputation. Collecting for the Lord’s service is distinguished from professional begging for personal maintenance.

  2. 2

    Teaching for a livelihood may restrict what one teaches, and performing sacrifices may expose one to manipulation by materialistic worshipers. If these occupations compromise his position, a brāhmaṇa may live by collecting rejected grains.

  3. 3

    A pure devotee remembers that the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally cares for him. An advanced Vaiṣṇava does not doubt the Lord’s promise to maintain His devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • A brāhmaṇa should not become a professional beggar for his personal maintenance.
  • If a brāhmaṇa or Vaiṣṇava considers that being a professional beggar is weakening his austerity, destroying his spiritual influence and giving him a bad reputation, then he should give up that process.
  • A brāhmaṇa may then take up the task of teaching Vedic knowledge and performing sacrifice.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 11.17.41 quotesBG 9.22

As the Lord states in Bhagavad-gītā (9.22): “But those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form — to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

The occupational duties of accepting charity, teaching others and performing sacrifice for others are the privilege of the brāhmaṇas alone. If a brāhmaṇa considers that his consciousness is contaminated by engaging in these occupations, he may sustain his existence by collecting grains from the fields.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pratigrahamaccepting charity
  2. manyamānaḥconsidering
  3. tapaḥof one’s austerity
  4. tejaḥspiritual influence
  5. yaśaḥand fame
  6. nudamdestruction
  7. anyābhyāmby the other two (teaching Vedic knowledge and performing sacrifice)
  8. evaindeed
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”, “worshipers”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “give up”

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

Could concern for my maintenance be compromising my spiritual integrity?

Practice

Take a quiet moment today to remember the Lord’s promise to carry what His devoted worshipers lack and preserve what they have.

Live this todayTrust the Lord Without Compromising ServiceThis 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.

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