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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 20: Pure Devotional Service Surpasses Knowledge and Detachment
11.20.811.20.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.20.9

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
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

तावत् कर्माणि कुर्वीत न निर्विद्येत यावता ।

मत्कथाश्रवणादौ वा श्रद्धा यावन्न जायते ॥ ९ ॥

tāvat karmāṇi kurvīta

na nirvidyeta yāvatā

mat-kathā-śravaṇādau vā

śraddhā yāvan na jāyate

Translation

As long as one is not satiated by fruitive activity and has not awakened his taste for devotional service by śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ, one has to act according to the regulative principles of the Vedic injunctions.

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.

Do Not Abandon Duties Prematurely

  1. 1

    Unless firm faith in Kṛṣṇa has developed through association with pure devotees and one is fully engaged in His service, ordinary Vedic principles and duties should not be neglected.

  2. 2

    Advanced devotional service brings clear knowledge of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and detachment from nondevotional activities. Merely claiming to be a devotee does not justify violating the Lord’s instructions.

  3. 3

    One who fully surrenders to Lord Kṛṣṇa takes shelter of His promise to settle all other responsibilities and debts. Meditating on His protection makes the surrendered devotee fearless.

Key points from the purport
  • Unless one has developed firm faith in Lord Kṛṣṇa by association with pure devotees and is thus engaged full time in the devotional service of the Lord, one should not neglect ordinary Vedic principles and duties.
  • The Lord here states that if one has not developed firm faith in the process of chanting and hearing, one must comply with the ordinary injunctions of Vedic literatures.
  • On the other hand, one who has developed great faith in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa does not hesitate to do anything that will further the mission of the Lord.

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· 5

The purport of SB 11.20.9 quotesSB 1.2.7

In the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.7) it is stated: One who is actually engaged in advanced devotional service immediately develops both clear knowledge of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and detachment from nondevotional activities.

The purport of SB 11.20.9 quotesSB 11.5.41

As stated in the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.41): “Anyone who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, the giver of liberation, giving up all kinds of obligation, and has taken to the path in all seriousness, owes neither duties nor obligations to the demigods, sages, general living entities, family members, humankind or forefathers.”

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.3.45

Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself states in the Bhāgavatam (11.20.9): “One should continue to perform the Vedic ritualistic activities until one actually becomes detached from material sense gratification and develops faith for hearing and chanting about Me.”

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 9.266

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.20.9).

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 22.61

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.20.9).

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:

As long as one has not become uninterested in enjoying the fruits of one’s work, or as long as one’s faith in the topics of discussion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead on the path of devotional service has not awakened, then one must continue to fulfill all the prescribed duties of his karma. But neither the renunciant nor the devotee of the Supreme Lord need carry out ritualistic duties.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tāvatup to that time
  2. karmāṇifruitive activities
  3. kurvītaone should execute
  4. na nirvidyetais not satiated
  5. yāvatāas long as
  6. mat-kathāof discourses about Me
  7. śravaṇa-ādauin the matter of śravaṇam, kīrtanam and so on
  8. vāor
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.20

    In this verse: “principles”, “duties”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 11.20

    In this verse: “kīrtanaṁ”

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

Do my knowledge and detachment support my claims of devotion, or am I using devotion to avoid responsibility?

Practice

Complete one duty you have been tempted to neglect, without using your devotional aspirations as an excuse.

5

Connected stories

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

The purport quotesSB 1.2.7SB 11.5.41

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.20's connections

Live this todayDo Not Abandon Duties PrematurelyThis 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 11.20.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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