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Study a Verse

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

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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

11.23.45 11.23.47

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.23.46

Mukti· Liberation

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

समाहितं यस्य मन: प्रशान्तं

दानादिभि: किं वद तस्य कृत्यम् ।

असंयतं यस्य मनो विनश्यद्

दानादिभिश्चेदपरं किमेभि: ॥ ४६ ॥

samāhitaṁ yasya manaḥ praśāntaṁ

dānādibhiḥ kiṁ vada tasya kṛtyam

asaṁyataṁ yasya mano vinaśyad

dānādibhiś ced aparaṁ kim ebhiḥ

Translation

If one’s mind is perfectly fixed and pacified, then tell me what need does one have to perform ritualistic charity and other pious rituals? And if one’s mind remains uncontrolled, lost in ignorance, then of what use are these engagements for him?

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.

Rituals Must Lead to a Pacified Mind

1
The verse asks what further need there is for ritualistic charity when the mind is perfectly fixed and pacified.
2
It also questions the usefulness of these engagements when the mind remains uncontrolled and lost in ignorance.
3
The contrast directs attention to the condition of the mind, rather than merely the performance of rituals.

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:

A person who has already composed his mind in meditation has no need for these other processes, and for a person who is incapable of fixing his mind they are of no practical use. The false conception of material ego binds the transcendental soul to material sense objects.

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