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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
11.23.6011.24.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.23.61

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 11.23.58inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

य एतां भिक्षुणा गीतां ब्रह्मनिष्ठां समाहित: ।

धारयञ्छ्रावयञ्छृण्वन्द्वन्द्वैर्नैवाभिभूयते ॥ ६१ ॥

ya etāṁ bhikṣuṇā gītāṁ

brahma-niṣṭhāṁ samāhitaḥ

dhārayañ chrāvayañ chṛṇvan

dvandvair naivābhibhūyate

Translation

Anyone who listens to or recites to others this song of the sannyāsī, which presents scientific knowledge of the Absolute, and who thus meditates upon it with full attention, will never again be overwhelmed by the dualities of material happiness and distress.

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.

Hear Attentively and Serve with Love

  1. 1

    Attentively hearing, reciting and meditating on this song protects one from being overwhelmed by material happiness and distress. The song presents knowledge of the Absolute.

  2. 2

    The Vaiṣṇava sannyāsī overcame illusion by taking shelter of the Lord's devotional service. Having received the Lord's mercy, he also taught others so they could follow the devotees.

  3. 3

    True religion means becoming a pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in loving service. Its sole objective is the Lord's satisfaction, not material enjoyment or renunciation merely to avoid inconvenience.

Key points from the purport
  • The Vaiṣṇava sannyāsī took shelter of the devotional service of the Lord and thus could overcome the illusory potency of his worshipable object, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Religion actually means to become a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord in loving service.
  • Those who are trying to enjoy the material world or merely renounce it to avoid personal inconvenience cannot actually understand love of Godhead, in which the only objective is the satisfaction of the Lord.

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:

Neither mortal persons, the demigods, the soul, the ruling planets, the reactions of work nor time are the causes of one’s happiness and distress. Rather, the mind alone is their cause, because it is the mind that makes the spirit soul wander in the cycle of material life.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥwhoever
  2. etāmthis
  3. bhikṣuṇāby the sannyāsī
  4. gītāmsung
  5. brahmaknowledge of the Absolute
  6. niṣṭhāmbased upon
  7. samāhitaḥwith full attention
  8. dhārayanmeditating
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 11.23

    In this verse: “recites”, “hearing”, “reciting”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “illusion”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.23

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

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

Is your spiritual practice directed toward the Lord's satisfaction, or mainly toward your own comfort?

Practice

Read one verse of this song aloud with full attention, then reflect on how it can help you serve the Lord for His satisfaction.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear Attentively and Serve with LoveThis 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 11.23.61? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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