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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
11.24.1911.24.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.24.20

Visarga· Brahmā's 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

सर्गः प्रवर्तते तावत् पौर्वापर्येण नित्यशः ।

महान् गुणविसर्गार्थः स्थित्यन्तो यावदीक्षणम् ॥ २० ॥

sargaḥ pravartate tāvat

paurvāparyeṇa nityaśaḥ

mahān guṇa-visargārthaḥ

sthity-anto yāvad īkṣaṇam

Translation

As long as the Supreme Personality of Godhead continues to glance upon nature, the material world continues to exist, perpetually manifesting through procreation the great and variegated flow of universal creation.

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.

Creation Depends on the Lord’s Glance

  1. 1

    The material world continues to exist as long as the Supreme Personality of Godhead glances upon nature. Its varied creation continues through parents and children.

  2. 2

    Although the mahat-tattva is the ingredient cause of the world, the Supreme Lord is its only ultimate cause. Time and nature are powerless to act without His glance.

  3. 3

    The Lord creates unlimited material variety for the sense gratification of conditioned souls. They seek enjoyment as parents and children throughout the 8,400,000 species of life.

Key points from the purport
  • Although the mahat-tattva, impelled by the force of time, is the ingredient cause of this world, it is clearly explained here that the Supreme Lord is personally the only ultimate cause of all that exists.
  • Time and nature are powerless to act without the glance of the Personality of Godhead.
  • He creates unlimited material variety for the sense gratification of the conditioned souls, who try to enjoy life as the children of particular parents and as the parents of particular children, throughout the 8,400,000 species of life.

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:

By the conglomeration of all of these elements grows the universal egg, in the midst of which the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the creating Lord of the universe takes up residence in the role of indwelling Supersoul. From the navel of this ultimate creator comes a lotus, upon which Brahmā takes birth.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sargaḥthe creation
  2. pravartatecontinues to exist
  3. tāvatto that extent
  4. paurva-aparyeṇain the form of parents and children
  5. nityaśaḥperpetually
  6. mahānbountiful
  7. guṇa-visargaof the variegated manifestation of the material modes
  8. arthaḥfor the purpose
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “sense gratification”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 11.24

    In this verse: “children”

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

Do I see the world as acting independently, or as dependent on the Supreme Lord?

Practice

While observing a living creature today, pause and remember that the continuation of life depends on the Lord’s glance.

Live this todayCreation Depends on the Lord’s GlanceThis 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 11.24.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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