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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
11.19.1611.19.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.19.17

Mukti· Liberation
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

श्रुति: प्रत्यक्षमैतिह्यमनुमानं चतुष्टयम् ।

प्रमाणेष्वनवस्थानाद् विकल्पात् स विरज्यते ॥ १७ ॥

śrutiḥ pratyakṣam aitihyam

anumānaṁ catuṣṭayam

pramāṇeṣv anavasthānād

vikalpāt sa virajyate

Translation

From the four types of evidence — Vedic knowledge, direct experience, traditional wisdom and logical induction — one can understand the temporary, insubstantial situation of the material world, by which one becomes detached from the duality of this world.

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.

Learn Impermanence and Hear Kṛṣṇa Directly

  1. 1

    Vedic knowledge, direct experience, traditional wisdom and logical induction reveal that material things cannot last. Recognizing this helps one develop vairāgya, or detachment.

  2. 2

    Material sense gratification is always unsteady and can collapse at any moment. No material living standard provides permanence.

  3. 3

    Systems of material evidence can also contradict one another about the highest truth. Rather than becoming bewildered by competing arguments, one can hear directly from Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and actual authority.

Key points from the purport
  • One should therefore develop vairāgya, detachment, as stated here.
  • One should therefore be detached from the duality of mundane evidence, including the portions of the Vedas that deal with the material world.
  • One thereby becomes detached from inferior systems of knowledge, which cause one to hover on the material mental platform.

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

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 9.362

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.19.17), it is said:

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 19: The Perfection of Spiritual Knowledge

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The Supreme Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, stated to Uddhava, “One who is actually wise, who knows the truth of the self and possesses transcendental insight, rejects this world of dualities and the so-called knowledge meant for facilitating enjoyment of it. He instead engages himself in trying to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.19
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrutiḥVedic knowledge
  2. pratyakṣamdirect experience
  3. aitihyamtraditional wisdom
  4. anumānamlogical induction
  5. catuṣṭayamfourfold
  6. pramāneṣuamong all types of evidence
  7. anavasthānātdue to the flickering nature
  8. vikalpātfrom material diversity
  9. saḥa person
  10. virajyatebecomes detached
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “wisdom”, “understand”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.19

    In this verse: “detached”, “detachment”, “vairāgya”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “sense gratification”

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 seeking certainty in changing material arrangements or in the Lord’s instructions?

Practice

Reread one instruction spoken by Kṛṣṇa in this passage, giving it your attention without turning to competing arguments.

Live this todayLearn Impermanence and Hear Kṛṣṇa DirectlyThis 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.

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