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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
11.23.711.23.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.23.8

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

दु:शीलस्य कदर्यस्य द्रुह्यन्ते पुत्रबान्धवा: ।

दारा दुहितरो भृत्या विषण्णा नाचरन् प्रियम् ॥ ८ ॥

duḥśīlasya kadaryasya

druhyante putra-bāndhavāḥ

dārā duhitaro bhṛtyā

viṣaṇṇā nācaran priyam

Translation

Since he was so hardhearted and miserly, his sons, in-laws, wife, daughters and servants began to feel inimical toward him. Becoming disgusted, they would never treat him with affection.

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.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hardheartedness Drives Affection Away

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇa’s hardhearted and miserly conduct affected those closest to him.

  2. 2

    His sons, in-laws, wife, daughters and servants began to feel inimical toward him.

  3. 3

    They became disgusted and no longer treated him affectionately. His character damaged the warmth of his relationships.

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:

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. In due course of time, thieves, family members and providence took away the sum total of his wealth.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. duḥśīlasyahaving a bad character
  2. kadaryasyatoward the miser
  3. druhyantethey developed enmity
  4. putrahis sons
  5. bāndhavāḥand in-laws
  6. dārāḥhis wife
  7. duhitaraḥhis daughters
  8. bhṛtyāḥthe servants
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

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

Could any hardhearted habit of mine be making affection difficult for those around me?

Practice

Replace one cold or withholding response today with a small act of consideration.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHardheartedness Drives Affection AwayThis 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 11.23.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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