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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
11.22.4811.22.50

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.22.49

Mukti· Liberation
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

आत्मन: पितृपुत्राभ्यामनुमेयौ भवाप्ययौ ।

न भवाप्ययवस्तूनामभिज्ञो द्वयलक्षण: ॥ ४९ ॥

ātmanaḥ pitṛ-putrābhyām

anumeyau bhavāpyayau

na bhavāpyaya-vastūnām

abhijño dvaya-lakṣaṇaḥ

Translation

By the death of one’s father or grandfather one can surmise one’s own death, and by the birth of one’s son one can understand the condition of one’s own birth. A person who thus realistically understands the creation and destruction of material bodies is no longer subject to these dualities.

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.

Learn From Birth and Death

  1. 1

    By studying one’s child, one can understand bodily stages that one cannot remember, such as life in the womb and infancy.

  2. 2

    The death of a father or grandfather gives definite proof that one’s own material body will also die, despite hopes of living forever.

  3. 3

    Knowing the soul to be eternal, a sober person gives up identification with the temporary, unreliable body and takes shelter of devotional service to the Lord. This frees one from the artificial imposition of birth and death.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord has described the nine stages of the material body, beginning with impregnation, gestation and birth.
  • Similarly, although one may hope to live forever, by experiencing the death of one’s father, grandfather or great-grandfather, one has definite proof that the material body will die.
  • By this process one can escape the artificial imposition of birth and death.

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:

From the death of one’s father and the birth of one’s son, a person can easily comprehend the rise and fall of his own body. The soul, who is the perceiver, is different from this body.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ātmanaḥone’s own
  2. pitṛfrom the father or ancestors
  3. putrābhyāmand the son
  4. anumeyaucan be surmised
  5. bhavabirth
  6. apyayauand death
  7. nais no longer
  8. bhava-apyaya-vastūnāmof all that is subject to generation and destruction
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 11.22

    In this verse: “father”, “child”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 observing birth and death encourage me to take shelter of devotional service?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute reflecting on the body’s temporary nature, then make time for one act of devotional service to the Lord.

Live this todayLearn From Birth and DeathThis 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 11.22.49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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