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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 21: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Explanation of the Vedic Path
11.21.1211.21.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.21.13

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

अमेध्यलिप्तं यद् येन गन्धलेपं व्यपोहति ।

भजते प्रकृतिं तस्य तच्छौचं तावदिष्यते ॥ १३ ॥

amedhya-liptaṁ yad yena

gandha-lepaṁ vyapohati

bhajate prakṛtiṁ tasya

tac chaucaṁ tāvad iṣyate

Translation

A particular purifying agent is considered appropriate when its application removes the bad odor or dirty covering of some contaminated object and makes it resume its original nature.

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.

Purification Restores an Object's Original Cleanliness

  1. 1

    A purifying agent is appropriate when it removes an object's bad odor or dirty covering.

  2. 2

    Purification restores the contaminated object to its original nature and clean appearance.

  3. 3

    Furniture, kitchen utensils and clothing can be cleaned through suitable methods such as abrasion or washing with water.

Key points from the purport
  • Furniture, kitchen utensils, clothing and other objects are purified by application of abrasion, alkali, acid, water and so on.
  • One thereby removes the bad fragrance or impure coating of such objects, restoring them to their original clean appearance.

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:

These are to be made in terms of one’s body, the place of activity, the time, the objects utilized, the performer, the mantras chanted and the particular activity. In actuality, virtue and fault are not absolute but are relative to one’s particular platform of advancement.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. amedhyaby something impure
  2. liptamtouched
  3. yatthat thing which
  4. yenaby which
  5. gandhathe bad smell
  6. lepamand the impure covering
  7. vyapohatigives up
  8. bhajatethe contaminated object again assumes
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “purifying”, “contaminated”

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

When I clean something, do I check that the dirt or bad odor has actually been removed?

Practice

Clean one kitchen utensil, checking that its dirty coating and any bad odor are gone.

Live this todayPurification Restores an Object's Original CleanlinessThis 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 11.21.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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