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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
11.23.38-3911.23.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.23.40

Mukti· Liberation
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

एवं स भौतिकं दु:खं दैविकं दैहिकं च यत् ।

भोक्तव्यमात्मनो दिष्टं प्राप्तं प्राप्तमबुध्यत ॥ ४० ॥

evaṁ sa bhautikaṁ duḥkhaṁ

daivikaṁ daihikaṁ ca yat

bhoktavyam ātmano diṣṭaṁ

prāptaṁ prāptam abudhyata

Translation

The brāhmaṇa understood that all his suffering — from other living beings, from the higher forces of nature and from his own body — was unavoidable, being allotted to him by providence.

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.

Adjust Consciousness, Not Merely External Circumstances

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇa understood his suffering from other beings, nature and his own body as allotted by providence.

  2. 2

    He realized that his suffering arose from false identification with the material body, not merely from the body’s interaction with external conditions.

  3. 3

    Rather than trying to adjust his external situation, he worked on his Kṛṣṇa consciousness. His aim was to realize his actual identity as an eternal spirit soul.

Key points from the purport
  • Many cruel persons harassed the brāhmaṇa, and his own body caused him suffering in the form of fever, hunger, thirst, fatigue, etc. The higher forces of nature are those that cause excessive heat, cold, wind and rain.
  • The brāhmaṇa realized that his suffering was due to his false identification with his material body, and not to the interaction of his body with external phenomena.
  • Rather than try to adjust his external situation, he tried to adjust his Kṛṣṇa consciousness and thus realize his actual identity as eternal spirit soul.

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:

But he simply tolerated all this, remaining firm as a mountain. He remained fixed in his chosen spiritual practice and sang a song renowned as the Bhikṣu-gīta.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. saḥhe
  3. bhautikamdue to other living entities
  4. duḥkhamsuffering
  5. daivikamdue to higher powers
  6. daihikamdue to his own body
  7. caand
  8. yatwhatever
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 11.23

    In this verse: “suffering”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “spirit soul”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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

When discomfort arises, do I also examine my bodily identification?

Practice

During one minor discomfort today, pause and remember your identity as an eternal spirit soul while turning your attention to Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAdjust Consciousness, Not Merely External CircumstancesThis 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 11.23.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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