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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
11.18.3911.18.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 11.18.40-41

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

यस्त्वसंयतषड्‍वर्ग: प्रचण्डेन्द्रियसारथि: ।

ज्ञानवैराग्यरहितस्‍त्रिदण्डमुपजीवति ॥ ४० ॥

सुरानात्मानमात्मस्थं निह्नुते मां च धर्महा ।

अविपक्व‍कषायोऽस्मादमुष्माच्च विहीयते ॥ ४१ ॥

yas tv asaṁyata-ṣaḍ-vargaḥ

pracaṇḍendriya-sārathiḥ

jñāna-vairāgya-rahitas

tridaṇḍam upajīvati

surān ātmānam ātma-sthaṁ

nihnute māṁ ca dharma-hā

avipakva-kaṣāyo ’smād

amuṣmāc ca vihīyate

Translation

One who has not controlled the six forms of illusion [lust, anger, greed, excitement, false pride and intoxication], whose intelligence, the leader of the senses, is extremely attached to material things, who is bereft of knowledge and detachment, who adopts the sannyāsa order of life to make a living, who denies the worshipable demigods, his own self and the Supreme Lord within himself, thus ruining all religious principles, and who is still infected by material contamination, is deviated and lost both in this life and the next.

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.

Reject False Renunciation and Cultivate Genuine Service

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa condemns adopting sannyāsa for a livelihood or sense gratification while remaining without knowledge and detachment. Lust, anger, greed, excitement, false pride and intoxication must not be hidden beneath a religious appearance.

  2. 2

    One who denies the worshipable demigods, his own self and the Supreme Lord within himself ruins religious principles. Such false renunciation leaves one lost in this life and the next.

  3. 3

    False sannyāsīs may become famous among foolish persons, but they cheat themselves and their followers. Their outward show is not loving devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa here condemns bogus personalities who adopt the sannyāsa order of life for sense gratification while still maintaining all of the symptoms of gross illusion.
  • A false show of sannyāsa is never accepted by intelligent followers of Vedic principles.
  • These charlatan sannyāsīs are never actually engaged in the loving devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

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:

If one lacks knowledge and renunciation, or continues to be troubled by the unconquered six enemies headed by lust and the all-powerful senses, or if one accepts the tridaṇḍa renounced order simply for the purpose of carrying out a livelihood, then he will achieve as his result only the killing of his own soul. A paramahaṁsa is not under the control of injunctions and prohibitions.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥone who
  2. tubut
  3. asaṁyatahaving not controlled
  4. ṣaṭthe six
  5. vargaḥitems of contamination
  6. pracaṇḍafierce
  7. indriyaof the senses
  8. sārathiḥthe driver, intelligence
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attached”, “illusion”, “lust”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.18

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.18

    In this verse: “worshipable”, “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

Am I more concerned with appearing spiritual or with genuinely serving Lord Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Examine one spiritual activity today and honestly identify whether its motive is service, recognition or material gain.

Live this todayReject False Renunciation and Cultivate Genuine 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 11.18.40-41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.