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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 22: Enumeration of the Elements of Material Creation
11.22.1111.22.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.22.12

Sarga· Creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 11.22.4inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

प्रकृतिर्गुणसाम्यं वै प्रकृतेर्नात्मनो गुणा: ।

सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति स्थित्युत्पत्त्यन्तहेतव: ॥ १२ ॥

prakṛtir guṇa-sāmyaṁ vai

prakṛter nātmano guṇāḥ

sattvaṁ rajas tama iti

sthity-utpatty-anta-hetavaḥ

Translation

Nature exists originally as the equilibrium of the three material modes, which pertain only to nature, not to the transcendental spirit soul. These modes — goodness, passion and ignorance — are the effective causes of the creation, maintenance and destruction of this universe.

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.

The Soul Is Beyond Material Modes

  1. 1

    Material nature originally exists as the equilibrium of goodness, passion and ignorance. These modes bring about the universe’s creation, maintenance and destruction.

  2. 2

    The bewildered soul thinks himself the doer, although nature carries out material activities. The modes are far more powerful than the tiny living entity they control.

  3. 3

    Material knowledge, work and darkness do not belong to the transcendental soul, whose qualities are eternality, bliss and knowledge. The material modes cannot enter the kingdom of God, where the eternal living entity is meant to live.

Key points from the purport
  • The three modes of nature, in their original state of equilibrium, as well as the subsequent creation generated from the modes, are vastly more powerful than the tiny living entity who is controlled by them.
  • These modes of material knowledge, work and darkness have no real relation with the transcendental spirit soul, who exhibits his own qualities of eternality, bliss and knowledge (the sandhinī, saṁvit and hlādinī potencies of the Supreme Lord).
  • The material modes have no access within the kingdom of God, in the unbounded atmosphere of which the eternal living entity is meant to live.

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· 1

The purport of SB 11.22.12 quotesBG 3.27

In Bhagavad-gītā (3.27) it is stated: “The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature.”

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

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 22: Enumeration of the Elements of Material Creation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Material nature, which is under the control of the Supreme Lord, then assumes the forms of causes and effects and carries out the creation, maintenance and destruction of the material world. Even though the puruṣa and prakṛti appear nondifferent to superficial vision, there is an ultimate difference between the two.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prakṛtiḥmaterial nature
  2. guṇaof the three modes
  3. sāmyamthe original equilibrium
  4. vaiindeed
  5. prakṛteḥof nature
  6. na ātmanaḥnot of the spirit soul
  7. guṇāḥthese modes
  8. sattvamgoodness
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sarga · The creation of the universe

    Where does the universe come from? · Subject 1 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.22

    In this verse: “spirit soul”, “knowledge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.22

    In this verse: “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.22

    In this verse: “kingdom”

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 feel driven by work or covered by darkness, do I mistake that condition for my spiritual identity?

Practice

Notice one experience of knowledge, work or darkness today, and remind yourself that this material condition does not define the transcendental soul.

Live this todayThe Soul Is Beyond Material ModesThis 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.

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