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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 18: Description of Varṇāśrama-dharma
11.18.40-4111.18.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.18.42

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

भिक्षोर्धर्म: शमोऽहिंसा तप ईक्षा वनौकस: ।

गृहिणो भूतरक्षेज्या द्विजस्याचार्यसेवनम् ॥ ४२ ॥

bhikṣor dharmaḥ śamo ’hiṁsā

tapa īkṣā vanaukasaḥ

gṛhiṇo bhūta-rakṣejyā

dvijasyācārya-sevanam

Translation

The main religious duties of a sannyāsī are equanimity and nonviolence, whereas for the vānaprastha austerity and philosophical understanding of the difference between the body and soul are prominent. The main duties of a householder are to give shelter to all living entities and perform sacrifices, and the brahmacārī is mainly engaged in serving the spiritual master.

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.

Each Order Has Its Main Duties

  1. 1

    The brahmacārī lives in the spiritual master's āśrama and personally assists him. Householders perform sacrifices and Deity worship and should provide maintenance for all living entities.

  2. 2

    The vānaprastha should perform austerities and clearly understand the difference between body and soul. This understanding helps maintain renunciation.

  3. 3

    The sannyāsī should absorb body, mind and words in self-realization. With equanimity and nonviolence, he becomes the well-wisher of all living entities.

Key points from the purport
  • The brahmacārī lives in the āśrama of the spiritual master and personally assists the ācārya.
  • The vānaprastha must clearly understand the difference between body and soul in order to maintain his status of renunciation, and he should also perform austerities.
  • Having thus achieved equanimity of mind, he is the best well-wisher of all living entities.

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 main duties for a householder are protection of living beings and sacrifice, for a vānaprastha austerities, and for a sannyāsī self-control and nonviolence. Celibacy (practiced by householders at all times except once a month when the wife is fertile), penance, cleanliness, self-satisfaction, friendship with all living beings and above all worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are duties meant for every jīva soul.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhikṣoḥof a sannyāsī
  2. dharmaḥthe main religious principle
  3. śamaḥequanimity
  4. ahiṁsānonviolence
  5. tapaḥausterity
  6. īkṣādiscrimination (between the body and the soul)
  7. vanain the forest
  8. okasaḥof one dwelling, a vānaprastha
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.18

    In this verse: “philosophical”, “understanding”, “understand”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”, “duties”, “āśrama”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “householder”, “householders”

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 you become a better well-wisher of living entities through your present duties?

Practice

Provide one living entity with needed food or shelter today.

Live this todayEach Order Has Its Main DutiesThis 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 11.18.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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