1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 21: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Explanation of the Vedic Path
11.21.911.21.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.21.10

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.21.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

द्रव्यस्य शुद्ध्यशुद्धी च द्रव्येण वचनेन च ।

संस्कारेणाथ कालेन महत्वाल्पतयाथवा ॥ १० ॥

dravyasya śuddhy-aśuddhī ca

dravyeṇa vacanena ca

saṁskāreṇātha kālena

mahatvālpatayātha vā

Translation

An object’s purity or impurity is established by application of another object, by words, by rituals, by the effects of time or according to relative magnitude.

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.

Purity Depends on Contact and Purpose

  1. 1

    An object's purity or impurity depends on contact with other substances, words, rituals, time and relative magnitude. Clean water purifies cloth, while some foods become impure through decay.

  2. 2

    Pure rituals are meant to satisfy the Supreme Lord. Flowers and food must not be smelled or tasted before being offered to the Deity.

  3. 3

    A saintly devotee explains actual purity, whereas a nondevotee may mislead others into sinful activities. A person whose devotion is small can easily be carried away by bad association.

Key points from the purport
  • Cloth is purified by application of clean water and contaminated by application of urine.
  • The word kālena indicates that certain substances are purified by time and others contaminated by time.
  • In terms of combination with other substances, and in terms of speech, ritual, time and magnitude, the purity and impurity of all objects can be ascertained.

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

Striving → Complete devotional trust. The Lord redirects Uddhava toward enduring loving service.

Chapters 21–29 of Canto 11: Spiritual practice culminating in bhakti-yoga. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 21: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Explanation of the Vedic Path

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In actuality, virtue and fault are not absolute but are relative to one’s particular platform of advancement. Remaining fixed in the type of discrimination suitable to one’s level of advancement is good, and anything else is bad.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dravyasyaof an object
  2. śuddhipurity
  3. aśuddhīor impurity
  4. caand
  5. dravyeṇaby another object
  6. vacanenaby speech
  7. caand
  8. saṁskāreṇaby ritual performance
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 11.21

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotee”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.21

    In this verse: “purifies”, “sinful”

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

Which influences strengthen my devotion, and which leave me doubtful or distracted?

Practice

Choose to hear a saintly devotee's explanation of spiritual life today.

Live this todayPurity Depends on Contact and PurposeThis 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 11.21.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories