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

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Canto

Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

11.21.2 11.21.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.21.3

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

शुद्ध्यशुद्धी विधीयेते समानेष्वपि वस्तुषु ।

द्रव्यस्य विचिकित्सार्थं गुणदोषौ शुभाशुभौ ।

धर्मार्थं व्यवहारार्थं यात्रार्थमिति चानघ ॥ ३ ॥

śuddhy-aśuddhī vidhīyete

samāneṣv api vastuṣu

dravyasya vicikitsārthaṁ

guṇa-doṣau śubhāśubhau

dharmārthaṁ vyavahārārthaṁ

yātrārtham iti cānagha

Translation

O sinless Uddhava, in order to understand what is proper in life one must evaluate a given object within its particular category. Thus, in analyzing religious principles one must consider purity and impurity. Similarly, in one’s ordinary dealings one must distinguish between good and bad, and to insure one’s physical survival one must recognize that which is auspicious and inauspicious.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Discern Wisely Beyond Material Good and Bad

1
Religious activities, ordinary dealings and physical survival require distinctions between proper and improper. Objects must be evaluated within their particular categories.
2
Even careful judgments cannot preserve the body or one’s social surroundings forever. Mere religiosity, worldly expertise and physical fitness cannot award life’s actual perfection.
3
Beyond relative material goodness is the transcendental good of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. There, life is eternal and full of bliss and knowledge.

Key points from the purport

And to insure our physical health and survival, we must constantly distinguish between what is safe and unsafe, healthy and unhealthy, profitable and unprofitable.
Even a learned person must constantly distinguish between good and bad within the material world, but at the same time he must understand the transcendental position of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Lord Kṛṣṇa, in His elaborate teachings to Śrī Uddhava, is gradually clarifying the transcendental position of Kṛṣṇa consciousness beyond the endless variety of material good and evil.

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

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

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Even among objects belonging to the same category, there are different considerations of their purity or impurity in relation to performance of religious duties, worldly transactions, and the maintenance of one’s life. These distinctions are described in various scriptures.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 11.21

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

śuddhipurity
aśuddhīand impurity
vidhīyeteare established
samāneṣuof the same category
apiindeed
vastuṣuamong objects
dravyasyaof a particular object
vicikitsāevaluation

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
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.21
In this verse: “religious”, “principles”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.21
In this verse: “understand”, “knowledge”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.21
In this verse: “material”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I treat material well-being as life’s perfection, or remember the higher goal of Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Practice

When making one choice about your health or daily dealings today, consider its practical value while remembering that material well-being is not life’s ultimate goal.

Live this todayDiscern Wisely Beyond Material Good and BadThis 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 11.21.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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