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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
11.23.4211.23.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.23.43

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The brāhmaṇasince 11.23.42inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → UddhavaThe Avantī brāhmaṇa → himself

मनो गुणान् वै सृजते बलीय-

स्ततश्च कर्माणि विलक्षणानि ।

शुक्लानि कृष्णान्यथ लोहितानि

तेभ्य: सवर्णा: सृतयो भवन्ति ॥ ४३ ॥

mano guṇān vai sṛjate balīyas

tataś ca karmāṇi vilakṣaṇāni

śuklāni kṛṣṇāny atha lohitāni

tebhyaḥ sa-varṇāḥ sṛtayo bhavanti

Translation

The powerful mind actuates the functions of the material modes, from which evolve the different kinds of material activities in the modes of goodness, ignorance and passion. From the activities in each of these modes develop the corresponding statuses of life.

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.

Control the Mind in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1

    The powerful mind sets material activities in motion through goodness, passion and ignorance. These activities lead to corresponding conditions of life.

  2. 2

    Identities such as a wise scholar or a wealthy person are material designations. They follow the mind’s tendency to enjoy temporary sense gratification.

  3. 3

    The stubborn material mind may refuse good advice even when its pursuits bring suffering. One must give up mental concoction and control the mind in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • In the mode of goodness one considers oneself to be a saintly or wise person, in the mode of passion one struggles for material success, and in the mode of ignorance one becomes cruel, lazy and sinful.
  • By the combination of the material modes one identifies oneself as a demigod, a king, a rich capitalist, a wise scholar, etc. These conceptions are material designations generated from the modes of nature, and they arrange themselves according to the tendency of the powerful mind to enjoy temporary sense gratification.
  • One must therefore give up mental concoction and control the mind in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, as exemplified here by the brāhmaṇa from Avantī.

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:

Subsequently, he would enter different villages to beg charity, but the people would harass and disturb him. But he simply tolerated all this, remaining firm as a mountain.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. manaḥthe mind
  2. guṇānthe activities of the modes of nature
  3. vaiindeed
  4. sṛjatemanifests
  5. balīyaḥvery strong
  6. tataḥby those qualities
  7. caand
  8. karmāṇimaterial activities
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.23

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

Where does my desire for material gain make me unwilling to hear good advice?

Practice

Notice one stubborn material desire today, and pause to remember Kṛṣṇa before acting on it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayControl the Mind in Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessThis 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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