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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
11.17.811.17.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.17.9

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

श्रीभगवानुवाच

धर्म्य एष तव प्रश्न‍ो नै:श्रेयसकरो नृणाम् ।

वर्णाश्रमाचारवतां तमुद्धव निबोध मे ॥ ९ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

dharmya eṣa tava praśno

naiḥśreyasa-karo nṛṇām

varṇāśramācāravatāṁ

tam uddhava nibodha me

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Uddhava, your question is faithful to religious principles and thus gives rise to the highest perfection in life, pure devotional service, for both ordinary human beings and the followers of the varṇāśrama system. Now please learn from Me those supreme religious principles.

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.

Pure Devotional Service Is Life’s Highest Perfection

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa praises Uddhava’s question because it leads to pure devotional service, the highest perfection of life. This benefit is open to ordinary people and followers of varṇāśrama alike.

  2. 2

    Ordinary people can become caught in worldly, sectarian considerations about religion. The most auspicious process is the one that awards Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  3. 3

    The purport describes varṇāśrama as the most scientific presentation of religion on earth. Its perfection is dedicating everything to the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • The word naiḥśreyasa-kara indicates that which awards the highest perfection of life, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which the Lord is explaining to Śrī Uddhava.
  • The process that awards the highest perfection of life should be considered the most auspicious for human beings.
  • The varṇāśrama system is the most scientific presentation of religiosity on the earth, and those who are most perfect in that system come to the point of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or dedicating everything for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord.

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:

After Uddhava inquires from Śrī Kṛṣṇa about the duties of the social and religious orders of the varṇāśrama society, the Lord replies that in the first age, Satya-yuga, there was only one social order, called haṁsa. In that age men were automatically dedicated to pure devotional service from their very birth, and since everyone was perfect in all respects, the age was called Kṛta-yuga.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead said
  2. dharmyaḥfaithful to religious principles
  3. eṣaḥthis
  4. tavayour
  5. praśnaḥquestion
  6. naiḥśreyasa-karaḥthe cause of pure devotional service
  7. nṛṇāmfor ordinary human beings
  8. varṇa-āśramathe varṇāśrama system
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”, “varṇāśrama”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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

Are you measuring spiritual progress by religious labels or by dedication to Kṛṣṇa’s satisfaction?

Practice

Choose one task today and consciously dedicate your effort to the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord.

Live this todayPure Devotional Service Is Life’s Highest PerfectionThis 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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