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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 24: The Philosophy of Sāṅkhya
11.23.6111.24.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.24.1

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 11.24.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

श्रीभगवानुवाच

अथ ते सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि साङ्ख्यं पूर्वैर्विनिश्च‍ितम् ।

यद् विज्ञाय पुमान् सद्यो जह्याद् वैकल्पिकं भ्रमम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

atha te sampravakṣyāmi

sāṅkhyaṁ pūrvair viniścitam

yad vijñāya pumān sadyo

jahyād vaikalpikaṁ bhramam

Translation

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Now I shall describe to you the science of Sāṅkhya, which has been perfectly established by ancient authorities. By understanding this science a person can immediately give up the illusion of material duality.

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.

Sāṅkhya Frees the Mind from Material Duality

  1. 1

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa teaches Sāṅkhya, established by ancient authorities, to explain the difference between matter and spirit.

  2. 2

    Hearing this knowledge helps separate the mind from material contamination and fix it in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  3. 3

    Material elements develop from the Lord’s potency with His assistance. The Sāṅkhya taught here is not the atheistic theory that matter evolves independently of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • In the previous chapter the Lord explained that one can give up material duality by controlling the mind and fixing it in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
  • The material elements, which emanate from the potency of the Lord, evolve in a progressive sequence.
  • One should not foolishly think that such evolution begins from an original material element without the assistance 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.

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofCC Ādi 5.58

An explicit description of these divisions of the external energy is given in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.24.1-4).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 24: The Philosophy of Sāṅkhya

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In this chapter Lord Kṛṣṇa gives instruction how bewilderment of the mind can be dispelled by the science of Sāṅkhya. Herein the Supreme Lord again imparts to Uddhava instruction about the analysis of material nature.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead said
  2. athanow
  3. teunto you
  4. sampravakṣyāmiI shall speak
  5. sāṅkhyamthe knowledge of the evolution of the elements of creation
  6. pūrvaiḥby previous authorities
  7. viniścitamascertained
  8. yatwhich
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.24

    In this verse: “illusion”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.24

    In this verse: “understanding”, “knowledge”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.24

    In this verse: “give up”

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

How can understanding the difference between matter and spirit help you fix your mind on Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Read the translation again slowly, remembering that material nature depends on the Lord.

5

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.24's connections

Live this todaySāṅkhya Frees the Mind from Material DualityThis 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 11.24.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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