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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
11.23.2611.23.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.23.27

Mukti· Liberation
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

किं धनैर्धनदैर्वा किं कामैर्वा कामदैरुत ।

मृत्युना ग्रस्यमानस्य कर्मभिर्वोत जन्मदै: ॥ २७ ॥

kiṁ dhanair dhana-dair vā kiṁ

kāmair vā kāma-dair uta

mṛtyunā grasyamānasya

karmabhir vota janma-daiḥ

Translation

For one who is in the grips of death, what is the use of wealth or those who offer it, sense gratification or those who offer it, or, for that matter, any type of fruitive activity, which simply causes one to again take birth in the material world?

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 Cannot Answer the Challenge of Death

  1. 1

    For someone in the grips of death, the speaker questions the usefulness of wealth and those who provide it.

  2. 2

    He asks the same question about sense gratification and those who offer it. Their value is challenged by the reality of death.

  3. 3

    Fruitive activity—action pursued for its material results—simply causes another birth in the material world.

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:

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. When this meditation arose in his heart, the brāhmaṇa could understand that the Supreme Lord Śrī Hari had somehow become satisfied with him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kimof what use
  2. dhanaiḥare different kinds of wealth
  3. dhana-daiḥthe givers of wealth
  4. vāor
  5. kimwhat is the use
  6. kāmaiḥof the objects of sense gratification
  7. vāor
  8. kāma-daiḥthose who give such sense gratification
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 11.23

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “wealth”, “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

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 would remembering death change what I consider worth pursuing today?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute considering whether your main goal today reaches beyond wealth and sense gratification.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWealth Cannot Answer the Challenge of DeathThis 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.

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