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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
11.24.1511.24.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.24.16

Sarga· Creation
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

अणुर्बृहत् कृशः स्थूलो यो यो भावः प्रसिध्यति ।

सर्वोऽप्युभयसंयुक्तः प्रकृत्या पुरुषेण च ॥ १६ ॥

aṇur bṛhat kṛśaḥ sthūlo

yo yo bhāvaḥ prasidhyati

sarvo ’py ubhaya-saṁyuktaḥ

prakṛtyā puruṣeṇa ca

Translation

Whatever features visibly exist within this world — small or great, thin or stout — certainly contain both the material nature and its enjoyer, the spirit soul.

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.

Nature and Soul Within Visible Forms

  1. 1

    Whatever visibly exists in this world contains both material nature and the spirit soul.

  2. 2

    This applies to forms that are small or great, thin or stout. Differences in outward appearance do not change this principle.

  3. 3

    The verse distinguishes material nature from its enjoyer, the spirit soul, while describing their conjunction in visible manifestations.

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:

Moreover, whatever exists in this universe is simply the product of the combination of material nature and her Lord. In the same way that creation proceeds gradually from the one and supremely subtle to the multitudinous and very gross, the process of annihilation proceeds from the grossest to the subtlest manifestation of nature, leaving only the eternal spiritual substance.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. aṇuḥsmall
  2. bṛhatgreat
  3. kṛśaḥthin
  4. sthūlaḥstout
  5. yaḥ yaḥwhatever
  6. bhāvaḥmanifestation
  7. prasidhyatiis established
  8. sarvaḥall
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Sarga · The creation of the universe

    Where does the universe come from? · Subject 1 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “spirit soul”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 I look beyond outward size and shape when considering material nature and the spirit soul?

Practice

Reread the verse today and name the two realities it identifies within visible forms: material nature and the spirit soul.

Live this todayNature and Soul Within Visible FormsThis 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 11.24.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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