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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 19: The Perfection of Spiritual Knowledge
11.19.1511.19.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.19.16

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.19.11inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

आदावन्ते च मध्ये च सृज्यात् सृज्यं यदन्वियात् ।

पुनस्तत्प्रतिसङ्‍क्रामे यच्छिष्येत तदेव सत् ॥ १६ ॥

ādāv ante ca madhye ca

sṛjyāt sṛjyaṁ yad anviyāt

punas tat-pratisaṅkrāme

yac chiṣyeta tad eva sat

Translation

Commencement, termination and maintenance are the stages of material causation. That which consistently accompanies all these material phases from one creation to another and remains alone when all material phases are annihilated is the one eternal.

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.

The Supreme Lord Alone Remains

  1. 1

    Material activity forms a chain of causes and effects. Objects arise, remain for some time and eventually disappear.

  2. 2

    All material objects are created, maintained and annihilated by the Lord’s supreme potency. When material cause and effect are withdrawn, the Personality of Godhead remains in His own abode.

  3. 3

    Material things may function as causes, but only the Personality of Godhead is the absolute cause. Through knowledge, one should understand His supreme position and absolute existence.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord here reiterates that the one Supreme Personality of Godhead is the basis of unlimited material variety.
  • And when the entire field of material cause and effect is withdrawn, so that all cause-effect relationships vanish, the Personality of Godhead remains in His own abode.
  • Therefore, although innumerable objects may function as causes, they are not the ultimate or supreme cause.

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 19: The Perfection of Spiritual Knowledge

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

This is pure bhakti-yoga. Transcendental knowledge is greater than such ordinary pious activities as chanting of mantras, but pure devotional service is greater than even knowledge.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.19
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ādauin the causal stage
  2. antein the termination of the causal function
  3. caalso
  4. madhyein the phase of maintenance
  5. caalso
  6. sṛjyātfrom one production
  7. sṛjyamto another production
  8. yatwhich
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.19

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.19

    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

How does remembering the Lord’s eternal existence change my view of temporary things?

Practice

Choose one everyday object and consider its beginning and eventual end, then remember that the Supreme Lord remains.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Alone RemainsThis 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 11.19.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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