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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 18: Description of Varṇāśrama-dharma
11.18.2911.18.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.18.30

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.18.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

वेदवादरतो न स्यान्न पाषण्डी न हैतुक: ।

शुष्कवादविवादे न कञ्चित् पक्षं समाश्रयेत् ॥ ३० ॥

veda-vāda-rato na syān

na pāṣaṇḍī na haitukaḥ

śuṣka-vāda-vivāde na

kañcit pakṣaṁ samāśrayet

Translation

A devotee should never engage in the fruitive rituals mentioned in the karma-kāṇḍa section of the Vedas, nor should he become atheistic, acting or speaking in opposition to Vedic injunctions. Similarly, he should never speak like a mere logician or skeptic or take any side whatsoever in useless arguments.

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.

Avoid Arguments That Obstruct Devotion

  1. 1

    A devotee should avoid fruitive Vedic rituals and should never act or speak against Vedic injunctions. Concealing an exalted spiritual position does not justify these activities.

  2. 2

    Spiritual truth extends beyond material experience, so mundane logic and experimentation alone cannot establish it. A devotee should not take sides in useless arguments.

  3. 3

    The purport warns against reading atheistic literature, even to prepare arguments against it. These activities obstruct Kṛṣṇa consciousness and should not be adopted even as a show.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that in the name of concealment one should not become a ghost.
  • Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī warns us in this regard that a devotee should not read atheistic literature, even with the purpose of refining arguments against atheism.
  • The above-mentioned prohibited activities are so detrimental to the advancement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness that they should not be adopted even as a superficial show.

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 18: Description of Varṇāśrama-dharma

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The followers of the karma-kāṇḍa section of the Vedas can attain the planets of the forefathers and so on by their ritualistic activities, but if they become endowed with devotion for the Supreme Lord, then by these same activities they can achieve the supreme stage of liberation.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. veda-vādain the karma-kāṇḍa section of the Vedas
  2. rataḥengaged
  3. nanever
  4. syātshould be
  5. nanor
  6. pāṣaṇḍīatheistic, acting against Vedic injunctions
  7. nanor
  8. haitukaḥa mere logician or skeptic
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 11.18

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.18

    In this verse: “material”

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

Which arguments draw my attention away from progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Practice

Step away from one useless argument today rather than taking either side.

Live this todayAvoid Arguments That Obstruct 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 11.18.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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