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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

11.23.32 11.23.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.23.33

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 11.23.31inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → UddhavaThe Avantī brāhmaṇa → himself

तं वै प्रवयसं भिक्षुमवधूतमसज्जना: ।

द‍ृष्ट्वा पर्यभवन् भद्र बह्वीभि: परिभूतिभि: ॥ ३३ ॥

taṁ vai pravayasaṁ bhikṣum

avadhūtam asaj-janāḥ

dṛṣṭvā paryabhavan bhadra

bahvībhiḥ paribhūtibhiḥ

Translation

O kind Uddhava, seeing him as an old, dirty beggar, rowdy persons would dishonor him with many insults.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Outward Appearance Does Not Justify Insults

1
The people saw the brāhmaṇa as an old, dirty beggar.
2
Rowdy persons dishonored him rather than treating him respectfully.
3
He received many insults. The verse describes their mistreatment, not a fault in his spiritual life.

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

Chapter 23: The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

As a result, his wife, sons, daughters, relatives and servants were all deprived of every kind of enjoyment and gradually came to behave unaffectionately toward him. In due course of time, thieves, family members and providence took away the sum total of his wealth.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 11.23