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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
11.23.511.23.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.23.6

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 11.23.2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

अवन्तिषु द्विज: कश्चिदासीदाढ्यतम: श्रिया ।

वार्तावृत्ति: कदर्यस्तु कामी लुब्धोऽतिकोपन: ॥ ६ ॥

avantiṣu dvijaḥ kaścid

āsīd āḍhyatamaḥ śriyā

vārtā-vṛttiḥ kadaryas tu

kāmī lubdho ’ti-kopanaḥ

Translation

In the country of Avantī there once lived a certain brāhmaṇa who was very rich and gifted with all opulences, and who was engaged in the occupation of commerce. But he was a miserly person — lusty, greedy and very prone to anger.

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.

Wealth Does Not Remove Miserliness

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇa lived in Avantī, identified in the purport as the district of Malwa. He became extremely wealthy through agriculture, banking and other business.

  2. 2

    Despite his wealth and opulence, he was miserly, lusty, greedy and very prone to anger.

  3. 3

    His miserliness made the loss of his hard-earned wealth agonizing. Possessing wealth had not freed him from suffering.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, the Avantī country is the district of Malwa.
  • This brāhmaṇa was extremely wealthy, doing business in agriculture, banking and so on.
  • Being a miser, he suffered agony when his hard-earned wealth was lost, as will be described by the Lord Himself.

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:

He had been extremely greedy, miserly and prone to anger. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. avantiṣuin the Avantī country
  2. dvijaḥbrāhmaṇa
  3. kaścita certain
  4. āsītthere was
  5. āḍhya-tamaḥvery rich
  6. śriyāwith opulences
  7. vārtāby business
  8. vṛttiḥearning his livelihood
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: “lusty”, “wealthy”

  • 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

Does concern for my possessions make me more greedy or prone to anger?

Practice

Notice one moment today when money or possessions stir greed or anger, and pause before acting.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWealth Does Not Remove MiserlinessThis 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 11.23.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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