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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
11.17.5411.17.56

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.17.55

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

कर्मभिगृहमेधीयैरिष्ट्वा मामेव भक्तिमान् ।

तिष्ठेद् वनं वोपविशेत् प्रजावान् वा परिव्रजेत् ॥ ५५ ॥

karmabhir gṛha-medhīyair

iṣṭvā mām eva bhaktimān

tiṣṭhed vanaṁ vopaviśet

prajāvān vā parivrajet

Translation

A householder devotee who worships Me by execution of his family duties may remain at home, go to a holy place or, if he has a responsible son, take sannyāsa.

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.

Sincere Surrender Makes Every Āśrama Successful

  1. 1

    A householder devotee can worship Lord Kṛṣṇa through family duties. Remaining at home can therefore be a path of devotional service.

  2. 2

    A householder may also accept vānaprastha, going to a sacred place with his wife. If a responsible son can take over family duties, he may accept sannyāsa, the renounced order.

  3. 3

    In all three āśramas, ultimate success depends on sincere surrender to the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is therefore the most important qualification.

Key points from the purport
  • He may continue at home, or he may take vānaprastha, which involves going to a sacred place with one’s wife.
  • Or if he has a responsible son to take over his family duties, he may take sannyāsa, the renounced order, for a definitive solution to the problems of life.
  • In all three āśramas, ultimate success depends on sincere surrender to the Supreme Lord; therefore, the most important qualification one can have is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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:

If he has a grown son, he may directly take the renounced order of sannyāsa. But persons who are excessively lusty after women, who have no proper discrimination, and who are extremely attached to wealth and possessions remain perpetually in anxiety over the welfare of their family members and are doomed to take their next birth in a lower species of life.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. karmabhiḥby activities
  2. gṛha-medhīyaiḥsuitable for family life
  3. iṣṭvāworshiping
  4. māmMe
  5. evaindeed
  6. bhakti-mānbeing a devotee
  7. tiṣṭhetone may remain at home
  8. vanamthe forest
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”, “worships”, “devotional service”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duties”, “āśramas”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “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

How can I make my present responsibilities an offering of service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Choose one family duty today and perform it carefully as an act of worship of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Live this todaySincere Surrender Makes Every Āśrama SuccessfulThis 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 11.17.55? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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