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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
11.24.111.24.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.24.2

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

आसीज्ज्ञानमथो अर्थ एकमेवाविकल्पितम् ।

यदा विवेकनिपुणा आदौ कृतयुगेऽयुगे ॥ २ ॥

āsīj jñānam atho artha

ekam evāvikalpitam

yadā viveka-nipuṇā

ādau kṛta-yuge ’yuge

Translation

Originally, during the Kṛta-yuga, when all men were very expert in spiritual discrimination, and also previous to that, during the period of annihilation, the seer existed alone, nondifferent from the seen object.

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.

True Vision Sees Everything as the Lord’s Potency

  1. 1

    In Kṛta-yuga, also called Satya-yuga, people were expert in spiritual discrimination. Their vision agreed with reality rather than changing speculation.

  2. 2

    Seeing everything as the Supreme Lord’s potency, they did not artificially create duality between themselves and other living entities.

  3. 3

    At annihilation, everything rests within the Lord. Liberated living entities in the eternal spiritual world never undergo this merging; they remain in their spiritual forms, voluntarily one with Him in love.

Key points from the purport
  • Kṛta-yuga is the first age, also known as Satya-yuga, in which knowledge, being perfect, is not different from its object.
  • In Satya-yuga, however, people are viveka-nipuṇāḥ, or expert in intelligent discrimination, and thus there is no difference between their vision and reality.
  • At the time of annihilation, everything merges to rest within the Lord, and at that time also there is no difference between the Lord, who becomes the only seer, and the objects of knowledge, which are contained within 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 24: The Philosophy of Sāṅkhya

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In the beginning of creation, the seer and seen are one and indistinguishable. This Supreme Absolute Truth, one without a second and inaccessible to words and mind, then separates into two — the seer, which means consciousness or personality, and the seen, which means substance or 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. āsītthere existed
  2. jñānamthe seer
  3. atha uthus
  4. arthaḥthe seen
  5. ekamone
  6. evasimply
  7. avikalpitamundifferentiated
  8. yadāwhen
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 11.24

    In this verse: “love”

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 might seeing others as the Lord’s potency change the way you relate to them?

Practice

When meeting someone today, pause to remember that this living entity is also the Supreme Lord’s potency.

Live this todayTrue Vision Sees Everything as the Lord’s PotencyThis 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 11.24.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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