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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
11.24.511.24.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.24.6

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

तेभ्यः समभवत् सूत्रं महान् सूत्रेण संयुतः ।

ततो विकुर्वतो जातो योऽहङ्कारो विमोहनः ॥ ६ ॥

tebhyaḥ samabhavat sūtraṁ

mahān sūtreṇa saṁyutaḥ

tato vikurvato jāto

yo ’haṅkāro vimohanaḥ

Translation

From these modes arose the primeval sūtra, along with the mahat-tattva. By the transformation of the mahat-tattva was generated the false ego, the cause of the living entities’ bewilderment.

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.

Devotional Service Protects Real Knowledge

  1. 1

    From the modes arise sūtra, carrying the potency of activity, and mahat-tattva, endowed with the potency of knowledge.

  2. 2

    The transformation of mahat-tattva produces false ego, which bewilders the living entities.

  3. 3

    Fruitive activity and mental speculation cover real knowledge. As devotional service slackens, these tendencies grow, just as darkness increases when light diminishes.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, sūtra is the first transformation of material nature that manifests the potency of activity, and it is accompanied by the mahat-tattva, which is endowed with the potency of knowledge.
  • In the material world, one’s real knowledge is covered by fruitive activity and mental speculation.
  • As one’s devotional service to the Lord slackens, these two tendencies grow automatically, just as the diminishing of light automatically brings an increase in darkness.

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:

The mahat-tattva then becomes manifest together with the energies of consciousness and activity. From these come the principle of false ego in its three aspects of goodness, passion and ignorance.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tebhyaḥfrom those modes
  2. samabhavatarose
  3. sūtramthe first transformation of nature, endowed with the potency of activity
  4. mahānprimeval nature endowed with the potency of knowledge
  5. sūtreṇawith this sūtra-tattva
  6. saṁyutaḥconjoined
  7. tataḥfrom the mahat
  8. vikurvataḥtransforming
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 11.24

    In this verse: “false ego”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.24

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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

When your devotional service slackens, do you notice more concern with material results or speculation?

Practice

Set aside a few undistracted minutes today for devotional service to the Lord.

Live this todayDevotional Service Protects Real KnowledgeThis 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 11.24.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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