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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
11.24.1411.24.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.24.15

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

मया कालात्मना धात्रा कर्मयुक्तमिदं जगत् ।

गुणप्रवाह एतस्मिन्नुन्मज्जति निमज्जति ॥ १५ ॥

mayā kālātmanā dhātrā

karma-yuktam idaṁ jagat

guṇa-pravāha etasminn

unmajjati nimajjati

Translation

All results of fruitive work have been arranged within this world by Me, the supreme creator acting as the force of time. Thus one sometimes rises up toward the surface of this mighty river of the modes of nature and sometimes again submerges.

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.

Rising and Falling in Material Existence

  1. 1

    The supreme creator, acting as time, arranges all results of fruitive work within this world.

  2. 2

    One may rise to higher planetary systems or become submerged in miserable conditions through impious activities.

  3. 3

    In either case, one remains in the mighty river of material existence. Its current carries one far from one’s real home in the kingdom of God.

Key points from the purport
  • Unmajjati refers to one’s promotion to the higher planetary systems, as mentioned in previous verses, and nimajjati refers to being submerged in a miserable condition of life by impious activities.
  • In both cases one is drowning within the mighty river of material existence, which carries one far away from one’s real home in the kingdom of God.

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 24: The Philosophy of Sāṅkhya

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

This universe of material action and reaction is constituted under the control of time and the three modes of material nature. Moreover, whatever exists in this universe is simply the product of the combination of material nature and her Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mayāby Me
  2. kāla-ātmanāwho contains the energy of time
  3. dhātrāthe creator
  4. karma-yuktamfull of fruitive activities
  5. idamthis
  6. jagatworld
  7. guṇa-pravāhein the mighty current of the modes
  8. etasminin this
  9. unmajjatione rises up
  10. nimajjatione drowns
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 11.24

    In this verse: “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 11.24

    In this verse: “kingdom”

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

Am I treating an improvement in material circumstances as though it were my final destination?

Practice

When a success or setback occurs today, pause and remember that your real home is in the kingdom of God.

Live this todayRising and Falling in Material ExistenceThis 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 11.24.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.