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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 23: The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa
11.23.911.23.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.23.10

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 11.23.2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

तदवध्यानविस्रस्तपुण्यस्कन्धस्य भूरिद ।

अर्थोऽप्यगच्छन्निधनं बह्वायासपरिश्रम: ॥ १० ॥

tad-avadhyāna-visrasta-

puṇya-skandhasya bhūri-da

artho ’py agacchan nidhanaṁ

bahv-āyāsa-pariśramaḥ

Translation

O magnanimous Uddhava, by his neglect of these demigods he depleted his stock of piety and all his wealth. The accumulation of his repeated exhaustive endeavors was totally lost.

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.

Piety Toward the Supreme Lord Endures

  1. 1

    By neglecting the demigods, the brāhmaṇa depleted his stock of piety and lost all his wealth. His repeated, exhausting efforts ended in loss.

  2. 2

    His piety became like a withered branch that could no longer produce flowers or fruits.

  3. 3

    A trace of piety directed toward the Supreme Lord, with hopes of liberation, remained unwithered. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that this pure portion eventually bore the fruit of knowledge.

Key points from the purport
  • The brāhmaṇa’s stock of piety became like a withered branch that no longer gives fruits or flowers.
  • Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī comments that the brāhmaṇa had a trace of piety directed at the Supreme Lord with hopes of liberation.
  • That pure portion of the branch of his piety remained unwithered, eventually giving the fruit of knowledge.

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 23: The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In due course of time, thieves, family members and providence took away the sum total of his wealth. Finding himself without any property and abandoned by everyone, the brāhmaṇa developed a deep sense of renunciation.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatof them
  2. avadhyānabecause of his neglect
  3. visrastadepleted
  4. puṇyaof piety
  5. skandhasyawhose portion
  6. bhūri-daO magnanimous Uddhava
  7. arthaḥthe wealth
  8. apiindeed
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 11.23

    In this verse: “wealth”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.23

    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 much of my effort is directed toward the Supreme Lord rather than merely accumulating wealth?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to read this teaching attentively, directing that effort toward the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPiety Toward the Supreme Lord EnduresThis 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 11.23.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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