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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.
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Canto 11 · Chapter 17: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Description of the Varṇāśrama System
11.17.5311.17.55

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.17.54

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

इत्थं परिमृशन्मुक्तो गृहेष्वतिथिवद् वसन् ।

न गृहैरनुबध्येत निर्ममो निरहङ्कृत: ॥ ५४ ॥

itthaṁ parimṛśan mukto

gṛheṣv atithi-vad vasan

na gṛhair anubadhyeta

nirmamo nirahaṅkṛtaḥ

Translation

Deeply considering the actual situation, a liberated soul should live at home just like a guest, without any sense of proprietorship or false ego. In this way he will not be bound or entangled by domestic affairs.

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.

Live at Home Without Possessiveness

  1. 1

    A liberated soul lives at home like a guest, without personal proprietorship or false ego, and is not bound by domestic affairs.

  2. 2

    Liberation from material attachment is possible even in family life. One no longer identifies oneself as a permanent resident of the material world.

  3. 3

    The purport calls for a serious program of kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana, including constant chanting of the Lord’s holy names, Deity worship, and participation in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.

Key points from the purport
  • The word mukta, or “liberated,” refers to one freed from all material attachment.
  • The only requirement is that one should take up a serious program of kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana, which includes constant chanting of the holy names of the Lord, worship of the Deity and participation in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
  • Without a serious program of kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana it is very difficult to give up the iron shackles of attachment to women and the byproducts of such attachment.

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:

In a similar situation, a kṣatriya may take the occupation of a vaiśya, and a vaiśya that of a śūdra. But when the emergency has passed, it is not fitting to continue earning one’s living by a lower occupation.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itthamthus
  2. parimṛśandeeply considering
  3. muktaḥa liberated soul
  4. gṛheṣuat home
  5. atithi-vatjust like a guest
  6. vasanliving
  7. nanot
  8. gṛhaiḥby the domestic situation
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attachment”, “material”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “false ego”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”

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

How would my attitude at home change if I lived there like a guest rather than a proprietor?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to chant the Lord’s holy names as a concrete step toward regular kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana.

Live this todayLive at Home Without PossessivenessThis 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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