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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
11.22.4911.22.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.22.50

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

तरोर्बीजविपाकाभ्यां यो विद्वाञ्जन्मसंयमौ ।

तरोर्विलक्षणो द्रष्टा एवं द्रष्टा तनो: पृथक् ॥ ५० ॥

taror bīja-vipākābhyāṁ

yo vidvāñ janma-saṁyamau

taror vilakṣaṇo draṣṭā

evaṁ draṣṭā tanoḥ pṛthak

Translation

One who observes the birth of a tree from its seed and the ultimate death of the tree after maturity certainly remains a distinct observer separate from the tree. In the same way, the witness of the birth and death of the material body remains separate from it.

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.

The Observer Is Separate From the Body

  1. 1

    Someone observing a tree’s birth from a seed and its eventual death remains distinct from the tree.

  2. 2

    Similarly, the witness of the material body’s birth and death remains separate from that body.

  3. 3

    For trees, vipāka indicates the final transformation of death; for plants such as rice, it indicates maturity, when death also occurs. Common observation helps one understand the body and oneself as its transcendental observer.

Key points from the purport
  • As a reference to trees, vipāka indicates the final transformation called death.
  • In reference to other types of plants such as rice, vipāka indicates the stage of maturity, in which death also occurs.
  • Thus by common observation one can understand the actual position of one’s material body and one’s own position as the transcendental observer.

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:

These are impregnation, gestation, birth, childhood, youth, maturity, middle age, old age and death. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.22
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. taroḥof a tree
  2. bīja(birth from) its seed
  3. vipākābhyām(destruction subsequent to) maturity
  4. yaḥone who
  5. vidvānin knowledge
  6. janmaof birth
  7. saṁyamauand death
  8. taroḥfrom the tree
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

  • 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: “understand”

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

What can observing a plant’s changes teach me about being distinct from my body?

Practice

Look at a tree or another plant and reflect on the difference between its changing life stages and you, its observer.

Live this todayThe Observer Is Separate From the BodyThis 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 11.22.50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.