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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
11.23.111.23.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.23.2

Mukti· Liberation
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

श्रीभगवानुवाच

बार्हस्पत्य स नास्त्यत्र साधुर्वै दुर्जनेरितै: ।

दुरक्तैर्भिन्नमात्मानं य: समाधातुमीश्वर: ॥ २ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

bārhaspatya sa nāsty atra

sādhur vai durjaneritaiḥ

duraktair bhinnam ātmānaṁ

yaḥ samādhātum īśvaraḥ

Translation

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: O disciple of Bṛhaspati, there is virtually no saintly man in this world capable of resettling his own mind after it has been disturbed by the insulting words of uncivilized men.

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.

Tolerate Personal Insults

  1. 1

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa explains that even saintly people find it very difficult to settle a mind disturbed by insulting words.

  2. 2

    Ridicule of spiritual realization disturbs devotees because it obstructs the progress of human society.

  3. 3

    A devotee must tolerate personal insults, but cannot tolerate offenses against the Lord Himself or His pure devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • In the modern age there is widespread propaganda ridiculing the path of spiritual realization, and thus even saintly devotees are disturbed to see the progress of human society being obstructed.
  • Still, a devotee of the Lord must tolerate any personal insult, though he cannot tolerate offense against the Lord Himself or the Lord’s pure devotee.

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:

The harsh words of uncouth persons pierce the heart even more severely than arrows. Yet a mendicant brāhmaṇa from the city of Avantī, even while being attacked by wicked men, considered this trouble to be simply the consequence of his own past deeds and tolerated it with utmost sobriety.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead said
  2. bārhaspatyaO disciple of Bṛhaspati
  3. saḥhe
  4. na astithere is not
  5. atrain this world
  6. sādhuḥa saintly person
  7. vaiindeed
  8. durjanaby uncivilized men
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.23

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 11.23

    In this verse: “offenses”

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

Can I distinguish an insult to myself from an offense against the Lord or His pure devotee?

Practice

If someone speaks slightingly to you today, pause before replying and choose not to return the insult.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTolerate Personal InsultsThis 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 11.23.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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