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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
11.22.3311.22.35-36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.22.34

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.22.29inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

आत्मा परिज्ञानमयो विवादो

ह्यस्तीति नास्तीति भिदार्थनिष्ठ: ।

व्यर्थोऽपि नैवोपरमेत पुंसां

मत्त: परावृत्तधियां स्वलोकात् ॥ ३४ ॥

ātmāparijñāna-mayo vivādo

hy astīti nāstīti bhidārtha-niṣṭhaḥ

vyartho ’pi naivoparameta puṁsāṁ

mattaḥ parāvṛtta-dhiyāṁ sva-lokāt

Translation

The speculative argument of philosophers — “This world is real,” “No, it is not real” — is based upon incomplete knowledge of the Supreme Soul and is simply aimed at understanding material dualities. Although such argument is useless, persons who have turned their attention away from Me, their own true Self, are unable to give it up.

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.

Understand Creation Through Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Debate about whether the world is real rests on incomplete knowledge of the Supreme Soul. Without understanding Lord Kṛṣṇa, such argument is useless.

  2. 2

    The material world is real because it comes from the supreme reality, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Understanding His creation requires taking shelter of Him.

  3. 3

    Devotees are not inclined to this unresolved speculation. They are satisfied by advancing spiritual enlightenment and their increasingly beautiful experience of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus, without understanding Lord Kṛṣṇa, mere argument and debate over the reality and nonreality of the material world are useless.
  • The material world is real specifically because it emanates from the supreme reality, Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • Without understanding the reality of Lord Kṛṣṇa one can never definitely ascertain the reality of His creation; one will always wonder if he is actually seeing something or merely thinking that he is seeing it.

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:

The living entities who are inimical to the Supreme Personality of Godhead take on and give up various kinds of material bodies through the agency of their own material work. But those who are ignorant of the self, because of being bewildered by illusion, do not understand this.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ātmaof the Supreme Soul
  2. aparijñāna-mayaḥbased on lack of full knowledge
  3. vivādaḥspeculative argument
  4. hiindeed
  5. asti(this world) is real
  6. itithus saying
  7. na astiit is not real
  8. itithus saying
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “philosophers”, “understanding”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.22

    In this verse: “devotees”

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

Does my reflection help me take shelter of Kṛṣṇa, or leave me circling in argument?

Practice

Spend two minutes rereading this purport with the aim of understanding Kṛṣṇa rather than winning an argument.

Live this todayUnderstand Creation Through KṛṣṇaThis 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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