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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
11.22.4111.22.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.22.42

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

इन्द्रियायनसृष्‍ट्येदं त्रैविध्यं भाति वस्तुनि ।

बहिरन्तर्भिदाहेतुर्जनोऽसज्जनकृद् यथा ॥ ४२ ॥

indriyāyana-sṛṣṭyedaṁ

trai-vidhyaṁ bhāti vastuni

bahir-antar-bhidā-hetur

jano ’saj-jana-kṛd yathā

Translation

Because the mind, which is the resting place of the senses, has created the identification with a new body, the threefold material variety of high, middle and low class appears as if present within the reality of the soul. Thus the self creates external and internal duality, just as a man might give birth to a bad son.

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.

Material Rankings Do Not Define the Soul

  1. 1

    Bodily wealth, beauty, strength, intelligence, fame and detachment are judged excellent, ordinary or inferior. Through bodily identification, the soul applies these rankings to himself and others.

  2. 2

    The eternal soul exists beyond material duality but falsely takes the body’s situation as his own. This identification involves him in bodily happiness and distress.

  3. 3

    A peaceful father may become involved in conflicts because of a troublesome son. Similarly, the soul has no intrinsic problems but becomes entangled through false identification with the body.

Key points from the purport
  • The spirit soul acquires a particular body and thus judges himself and others to be high, middle or low class according to their material situation.
  • Actually, the eternal soul exists beyond material duality but falsely mistakes the material situation to be his own.
  • Similarly, the spirit soul has no intrinsic problems, but by creating a false identification with the material body the soul becomes involved in the happiness and distress of the body.

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 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. Nevertheless, on account of being totally absorbed in sense gratification, one cannot remember his past existence.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. indriya-ayanaby the resting place of the senses (the mind)
  2. sṛṣṭyābecause of the creation (of identification with a new body)
  3. idamthis
  4. trai-vidhyamthreefold variety (of high, middle and low class)
  5. bhātiappears
  6. vastuniin the reality (the soul)
  7. bahiḥexternal
  8. antaḥand internal
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “wealth”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.22

    In this verse: “detachment”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 11.22

    In this verse: “distress”

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 do I judge my worth or another person’s worth by material circumstances?

Practice

When you catch yourself ranking someone by wealth, appearance or ability today, pause and remember that the soul is beyond those material distinctions.

Live this todayMaterial Rankings Do Not Define 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 11.22.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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