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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
11.24.211.24.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.24.3

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

तन्मायाफलरूपेण केवलं निर्विकल्पितम् ।

वाङ्‍मनोऽगोचरं सत्यं द्विधा समभवद् बृहत् ॥ ३ ॥

tan māyā-phala-rūpeṇa

kevalaṁ nirvikalpitam

vāṅ-mano-’gocaraṁ satyaṁ

dvidhā samabhavad bṛhat

Translation

That one Absolute Truth, remaining free from material dualities and inaccessible to ordinary speech and mind, divided Himself into two categories — the material nature and the living entities who are trying to enjoy the manifestations of that nature.

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.

Nature and Souls Are the Lord’s Potencies

  1. 1

    The one Absolute Truth remains free from material dualities and beyond ordinary speech and mind.

  2. 2

    He manifests two categories: material nature and the living entities trying to enjoy its manifestations.

  3. 3

    Both material nature and the living entity are potencies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Both material nature and the living entity are potencies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 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. The material nature, which comprises the three modes of matter, is agitated by the controlling male factor.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatthat (Supreme)
  2. māyāof the material nature
  3. phalaand the enjoyer of its manifestations
  4. rūpeṇain the two forms
  5. kevalamone
  6. nirvikalpitamnondifferentiated
  7. vākto speech
  8. manaḥand the mind
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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

  • 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 does recognizing both yourself and nature as the Lord’s potencies affect your wish to enjoy matter?

Practice

Look at one material object and recall that both it and you depend on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Live this todayNature and Souls Are the Lord’s PotenciesThis 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 11.24.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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