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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
11.22.2711.22.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.22.28

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 11.22.26inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

त्वत्तो ज्ञानं हि जीवानां प्रमोषस्तेऽत्र शक्तित: ।

त्वमेव ह्यात्ममायाया गतिं वेत्थ न चापर: ॥ २८ ॥

tvatto jñānaṁ hi jīvānāṁ

pramoṣas te ’tra śaktitaḥ

tvam eva hy ātma-māyāyā

gatiṁ vettha na cāparaḥ

Translation

From You alone the knowledge of the living beings arises, and by Your potency that knowledge is stolen away. Indeed, no one but Yourself can understand the real nature of Your illusory potency.

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.

Hear From the Source of Knowledge

  1. 1

    Remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness come from the Lord. By His causeless mercy, one is enlightened with knowledge.

  2. 2

    By the Lord's illusory potency, knowledge vanishes and one becomes immersed in ignorance. The Lord alone fully understands His illusory potency.

  3. 3

    Those bewildered by māyā cannot distinguish the material body from the spirit soul. They should hear from the Lord Himself to remove this covering.

Key points from the purport
  • As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca: “From Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.”
  • By the Lord’s causeless mercy one is enlightened with knowledge, and by the Lord’s illusory potency that knowledge vanishes and one is merged into ignorance.
  • Those bewildered by māyā cannot understand the difference between the material body and the spirit soul and thus should hear from the Lord Himself to remove this illusory covering.

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 22: Enumeration of the Elements of Material Creation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

But those who are ignorant of the self, because of being bewildered by illusion, do not understand this. The mind, which is filled with ideas of fruitive work, simply takes the senses with it from one body to another, while the soul follows along.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tvattaḥfrom You
  2. jñānamknowledge
  3. hiindeed
  4. jīvānāmof the living beings
  5. pramoṣaḥstealing away
  6. teYour
  7. atrain this knowledge
  8. śaktitaḥby the potency
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “māyā”, “material”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 11.22

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

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

How can I approach the Lord's words with greater awareness of my dependence on His mercy?

Practice

Read this translation aloud slowly, then ask the Lord for help in understanding the distinction between body and soul.

Live this todayHear From the Source of KnowledgeThis 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 11.22.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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