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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
11.18.4211.18.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.18.43

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

ब्रह्मचर्यं तप: शौचं सन्तोषो भूतसौहृदम् ।

गृहस्थस्याप्यृतौ गन्तु: सर्वेषां मदुपासनम् ॥ ४३ ॥

brahmacaryaṁ tapaḥ śaucaṁ

santoṣo bhūta-sauhṛdam

gṛhasthasyāpy ṛtau gantuḥ

sarveṣāṁ mad-upāsanam

Translation

A householder may approach his wife for sex only at the time prescribed for begetting children. Otherwise, the householder should practice celibacy, austerity, cleanliness of mind and body, satisfaction in his natural position, and friendship toward all living entities. Worship of Me is to be practiced by all human beings, regardless of social or occupational divisions.

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.

Worship Kṛṣṇa in Every Position

  1. 1

    All followers of the varṇāśrama system must worship Lord Kṛṣṇa. Even advanced performance of Vedic rituals and customs cannot preserve one's position without worship of the Supreme Lord.

  2. 2

    A religious householder should beget a saintly child at the prescribed time and place for the Lord's pleasure; otherwise, celibacy is prescribed. Austerity and cleanliness of mind and body are also required.

  3. 3

    Faithful worship of God as the supreme controller brings satisfaction in whatever situation He arranges. Seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa within everyone makes one a well-wishing friend of all.

Key points from the purport
  • Sarveṣāṁ mad-upāsanam indicates that all followers of the varṇāśrama system must worship Lord Kṛṣṇa or risk falling down from their position.
  • A religious householder should approach his wife at the prescribed time and place and beget a saintly child for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord.
  • Otherwise, it is specifically mentioned here that a householder must practice celibacy along with all of the other members of advanced human civilization.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 11.18.43 quotesSB 11.5.3

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.3), na bhajanty avajānanti sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ: even though one may be advanced in the performance of Vedic rituals and customs, without worshiping the Supreme Lord one will certainly fall down.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

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. brahma-caryamcelibacy
  2. tapaḥausterity
  3. śaucampurity of mind without attachment or repulsion
  4. santoṣaḥfull satisfaction
  5. bhūtatoward all living entities
  6. sauhṛdamfriendship
  7. gṛhasthasyaof the householder
  8. apialso
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.18

    In this verse: “friendship”, “friend”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 11.18

    In this verse: “children”, “child”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”

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 might seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa within everyone change your attitude toward someone today?

Practice

Before interacting with someone today, remember Lord Kṛṣṇa within that person and choose a friendly response.

5

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 11.5.3

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.18's connections

Live this todayWorship Kṛṣṇa in Every PositionThis 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 11.18.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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