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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 23: The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa
11.23.1611.23.18-19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.23.17

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The brāhmaṇasince 11.23.14inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → UddhavaThe Avantī brāhmaṇa → himself

अर्थस्य साधने सिद्धे उत्कर्षे रक्षणे व्यये ।

नाशोपभोग आयासस्‍‍‍‍‍त्रासश्चिन्ता भ्रमो नृणाम् ॥ १७ ॥

arthasya sādhane siddhe

utkarṣe rakṣaṇe vyaye

nāśopabhoga āyāsas

trāsaś cintā bhramo nṛṇām

Translation

In the earning, attainment, increase, protection, expense, loss and enjoyment of wealth, all men experience great labor, fear, anxiety and delusion.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Wealth Brings Anxiety at Every Stage

  1. 1

    Earning, obtaining and increasing wealth involve great labor.

  2. 2

    Protecting, spending and losing wealth also bring fear and anxiety.

  3. 3

    Even enjoying wealth is included among the activities accompanied by labor, fear, anxiety and delusion.

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:

He considered how the earning and preservation of wealth involve great effort, fear, anxiety and confusion. Because of wealth, there arise fifteen unwanted items — thievery, violence, lying, deception, lust, anger, pride, feverishness, disagreement, hatred, distrust, conflict, attachment to women, gambling and intoxication.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. arthaysaof wealth
  2. sādhanein the earning
  3. siddhein the attainment
  4. utkarṣein the increasing
  5. rakṣaṇein the protecting
  6. vyayein the expending
  7. nāśain the loss
  8. upabhogeand in the enjoyment
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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 11.23

    In this verse: “protection”, “protecting”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.23

    In this verse: “wealth”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.23

    In this verse: “fear”

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

Which stage of handling wealth causes me the most anxiety?

Practice

Write down one money-related worry and identify whether it concerns earning, protecting, spending, losing or enjoying wealth.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWealth Brings Anxiety at Every StageThis 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 11.23.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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