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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.
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Canto 11 · Chapter 22: Enumeration of the Elements of Material Creation
11.22.2311.22.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.22.24

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

एकादशत्व आत्मासौ महाभूतेन्द्रियाणि च ।

अष्टौ प्रकृतयश्चैव पुरुषश्च नवेत्यथ ॥ २४ ॥

ekādaśatva ātmāsau

mahā-bhūtendriyāṇi ca

aṣṭau prakṛtayaś caiva

puruṣaś ca navety atha

Translation

Counting eleven, there are the soul, the gross elements and the senses. Eight gross and subtle elements plus the Supreme Lord would make nine.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Two More Ways to Count Elements

  1. 1

    The calculation of eleven includes the soul, the gross elements and the senses.

  2. 2

    Another calculation groups the gross and subtle elements into eight.

  3. 3

    Counting these eight elements together with the Supreme Lord gives nine.

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:

The twenty-five elements of nature are the Lord, nature, the mahat, false ego, ether, air, fire, water, earth, the eyes, the ears, the nose, the tongue, the skin, speech, the hands, the feet, the genitals, the anus, the mind, sound, touch, form, taste and smell. The unmanifest Supreme Personality merely glances at nature.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ekādaśatvein the consideration of eleven
  2. ātmāthe soul
  3. asauthis
  4. mahā-bhūtathe gross elements
  5. indriyāṇithe senses
  6. caand
  7. aṣṭaueight
  8. prakṛtayaḥnatural elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego)
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

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

What does each calculation include in its total?

Practice

Write two short lines showing how the verse arrives at eleven and at nine.

Live this todayTwo More Ways to Count ElementsThis 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 11.22.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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