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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
11.22.3811.22.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.22.39

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 11.22.37inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

विषयाभिनिवेशेन नात्मानं यत् स्मरेत् पुन: ।

जन्तोर्वै कस्यचिद्धेतोर्मृत्युरत्यन्तविस्मृति: ॥ ३९ ॥

viṣayābhiniveśena

nātmānaṁ yat smaret punaḥ

jantor vai kasyacid dhetor

mṛtyur atyanta-vismṛtiḥ

Translation

When the living entity passes from the present body to the next body, which is created by his own karma, he becomes absorbed in the pleasurable and painful sensations of the new body and completely forgets the experience of the previous body. This total forgetfulness of one’s previous material identity, which comes about for one reason or another, is called death.

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.

Death Does Not Destroy the Soul

  1. 1

    When the karma allotted to a body is exhausted, death occurs. Nature provides another body in which the living entity experiences the karma currently in effect.

  2. 2

    Absorption in the new body’s pleasure and pain brings complete forgetfulness of the previous bodily identity. This total forgetfulness is called death.

  3. 3

    False bodily identification makes bodily death seem like the death of the soul. Actually, the soul is eternal, never created or destroyed; this knowledge is easily understood in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • Taking birth in heaven or in hell, the living entity learns to completely identify his ego with the new body and thus becomes absorbed in the pleasure, fear, opulence or suffering of the new body, completely forgetting the experiences of the previous body.
  • Since that particular body’s karma is used up, it can no longer act upon one’s mind; in that way one forgets the previous body.
  • Consequently one’s entire consciousness becomes absorbed in one’s current body in order that one can fully experience the results of his previous activities.

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:

Nevertheless, on account of being totally absorbed in sense gratification, one cannot remember his past existence. The body undergoes nine stages of manifestation, which are brought about by association with the qualities of material 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. viṣayain (new) objects of perception
  2. abhiniveśenabecause of absorption
  3. nanot
  4. ātmānamhis previous self
  5. yatthe situation in which
  6. smaretremembers
  7. punaḥany more
  8. jantoḥof the living entity
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.22

    In this verse: “death”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 does the soul’s eternal nature challenge my sense that the body is my whole identity?

Practice

Write down and reflect on this teaching today: “The body dies, but the soul is never created or destroyed.”

Live this todayDeath Does Not Destroy the SoulThis 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 11.22.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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