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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 20: Pure Devotional Service Surpasses Knowledge and Detachment
11.20.1611.20.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.20.17

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.20.6inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

नृदेहमाद्यं सुलभं सुदुर्लभं

प्लवं सुकल्पं गुरुकर्णधारम् ।

मयानुकूलेन नभस्वतेरितं

पुमान् भवाब्धिं न तरेत् स आत्महा ॥ १७ ॥

nṛ-deham ādyaṁ su-labhaṁ su-durlabhaṁ

plavaṁ su-kalpaṁ guru-karṇadhāram

mayānukūlena nabhasvateritaṁ

pumān bhavābdhiṁ na taret sa ātma-hā

Translation

The human body, which can award all benefit in life, is automatically obtained by the laws of nature, although it is a very rare achievement. This human body can be compared to a perfectly constructed boat having the spiritual master as the captain and the instructions of the Personality of Godhead as favorable winds impelling it on its course. Considering all these advantages, a human being who does not utilize his human life to cross the ocean of material existence must be considered the killer of his own soul.

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.

Accept Guidance Across Material Existence

  1. 1

    The rare human body is like a well-constructed boat capable of carrying one across material existence. Its purpose is service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The bona fide spiritual master is the captain, and Lord Kṛṣṇa's instructions and mercy are favorable winds. The Lord guides through Vedic literature, the spiritual master and within the sincere devotee's heart.

  3. 3

    Accepting this merciful guidance moves a sincere soul toward Godhead. Neglecting these advantages works against one's own spiritual interest and wastes the opportunity of human life.

Key points from the purport
  • A human being is supposed to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the bona fide spiritual master is the appropriate guide for such service.
  • The causeless mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa is compared to favorable winds that help the boat of the body to ply smoothly on the course back home, back to Godhead.
  • But one who cannot understand that the human body is a suitable boat for crossing the ocean of material existence will see no need to accept a captain in the form of the spiritual master and will not at all appreciate the favorable winds of the Lord’s mercy.

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· 4

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.23.28

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.20.17): When one wants to cross a large ocean, he requires a strong boat.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 6.7.14

As stated in the Vedic literature: We, the conditioned souls, have fallen in the ocean of nescience, but the human body fortunately provides us a good opportunity to cross the ocean because the human body is like a very good boat.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 7.15.45

It is said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.20.17): This human form of body is a most valuable boat, and the spiritual master is the captain, guru-karṇadhāram, to guide the boat in plying across the ocean of nescience.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.2.29

Any human being who has achieved these excellent facilities of human life but does not cross over the material ocean is to be considered the killer of his own self.”

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 20: Pure Devotional Service Surpasses Knowledge and Detachment

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

If the person who has attained such a rare boat in the form of the human body does not desire to cross over the ocean of material existence, he is in fact the killer of the soul. The mind is fickle, but one should not indifferently allow it to act as it will.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nṛhuman
  2. dehambody
  3. ādyamthe source of all favorable results
  4. su-labhameffortlessly obtained
  5. su-durlabhamalthough impossible to obtain even with great endeavor
  6. plavama boat
  7. su-kalpamextremely well suited for its purpose
  8. guruhaving the spiritual master
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 11.20

    In this verse: “favorable”, “mercy”, “merciful”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.20

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.20

    In this verse: “devotee's”

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 making use of the guidance that can direct my life toward service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Read one instruction of Lord Kṛṣṇa and identify one concrete way to follow it today.

Live this todayAccept Guidance Across Material ExistenceOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

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 11.20.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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