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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
11.21.1811.21.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.21.19

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

विषयेषु गुणाध्यासात् पुंस: सङ्गस्ततो भवेत् ।

सङ्गात्तत्र भवेत् काम: कामादेव कलिर्नृणाम् ॥ १९ ॥

viṣayeṣu guṇādhyāsāt

puṁsaḥ saṅgas tato bhavet

saṅgāt tatra bhavet kāmaḥ

kāmād eva kalir nṛṇām

Translation

One who accepts material sense objects as desirable certainly becomes attached to them. From such attachment lust arises, and this lust creates quarrel among men.

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.

Attachment Leads to Lust and Quarrel

  1. 1

    Considering material sense objects desirable leads to attachment, then lust and quarrel. Sense gratification is therefore not the actual goal of human life.

  2. 2

    A lusty person easily becomes angry with anyone who frustrates his desires. Thinking himself the enjoyer of God’s creation, he becomes full of pride and false prestige.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa consciousness depends on humble submission to the bona fide spiritual master, the Supreme Lord’s representative. Attraction to illicit sex directly opposes this humility.

Key points from the purport
  • The actual goal of human life should not be material sense gratification, for it is the basis of conflict in human society.
  • A lusty person is easily angered and becomes inimical to anyone frustrating his lusty desires.
  • Since his sex desire can never be satisfied, a lusty person ultimately becomes frustrated with his own sex partner, and thus a “love-hate” relationship develops.

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:

They are inimical to Lord Kṛṣṇa, attached to sense gratification, and are dominated by fruitive activities aimed at fulfillment of material desires. This chapter describes their faults in terms of place, time, substance and beneficiary of actions.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. viṣayeṣuin material objects of sense gratification
  2. guṇa-adhyāsātbecause of presuming them to be good
  3. puṁsaḥof a person
  4. saṅgaḥattachment
  5. tataḥfrom that presumption
  6. bhavetcomes into being
  7. saṅgātfrom that material association
  8. tatrathus
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.21

    In this verse: “attached”, “lust”, “material”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 11.21

    In this verse: “humble”, “humility”, “pride”

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 a desire is frustrated, does it make me angry or less willing to accept guidance?

Practice

Notice one frustrated desire today and refrain from speaking angrily to the person involved.

Live this todayAttachment Leads to Lust and QuarrelThis 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 11.21.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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