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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
11.22.411.22.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.22.5

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 11.22.4inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

नैतदेवं यथात्थ त्वं यदहं वच्मि तत्तथा ।

एवं विवदतां हेतुं शक्तयो मे दुरत्यया: ॥ ५ ॥

naitad evaṁ yathāttha tvaṁ

yad ahaṁ vacmi tat tathā

evaṁ vivadatāṁ hetuṁ

śaktayo me duratyayāḥ

Translation

When philosophers argue, “I don’t choose to analyze this particular case in the same way that you have,” it is simply My own insurmountable energies that are motivating their analytic disagreements.

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.

Recognize the Energies Behind Disagreement

  1. 1

    The modes of goodness, passion and ignorance attract philosophers to different views. Under the influence of the Lord’s material energies, they perpetually disagree.

  2. 2

    While sometimes agreeing and sometimes disagreeing, philosophers can forget their own souls. Their arguments then fail to reach a conclusion.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Lord Himself has given the clear explanation. The purport offers respectful obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who possesses unlimited transcendental qualities.

Key points from the purport
  • Because of the material potencies of the Supreme Lord, mundane philosophers are perpetually arguing about which came first, the chicken or the egg.
  • By the influence of the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance, different philosophers are attracted to different views; and by the influence of the material atmosphere created by the Lord, these philosophers perpetually disagree with one another.
  • Thus He creates within this material world a situation in which they are unable to come to a conclusion.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 11.22.5 quotesSB 6.4.31

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.4.31): “Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the all-pervading Supreme Personality of Godhead, who possesses unlimited transcendental qualities.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 insurmountable illusory energy of God is the root cause of their mutually contradictory arguments. There is no difference between the ultimate enjoyer and the supreme controller.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nait is not
  2. etatthis
  3. evamso
  4. yathāas
  5. ātthasay
  6. tvamyou
  7. yatwhich
  8. ahamI
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: “philosophers”

  • 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

When I defend an opinion, do I remember that my thinking can be influenced by the material modes?

Practice

Before continuing one disagreement today, pause and offer respectful obeisances to the Supreme Lord.

5

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 6.4.31

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.22's connections

Live this todayRecognize the Energies Behind DisagreementThis 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 11.22.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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