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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.24.8

Who is speaking and story frame

अर्थस्तन्मात्रिकाज्जज्ञे तामसादिन्द्रियाणि च ।

तैजसाद् देवता आसन्नेकादश च वैकृतात् ॥ ८ ॥

arthas tan-mātrikāj jajñe

tāmasād indriyāṇi ca

taijasād devatā āsann

ekādaśa ca vaikṛtāt

Translation

From false ego in the mode of ignorance came the subtle physical perceptions, from which the gross elements were generated. From false ego in the mode of passion came the senses, and from false ego in the mode of goodness arose the eleven demigods.

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.

Elements and Senses Develop from False Ego

  1. 1

    From false ego in ignorance come subtle physical perceptions, from which gross elements develop. The purport describes sound and sky, followed by touch and air.

  2. 2

    The senses arise from false ego in passion because they are busily engaged in activity.

  3. 3

    From false ego in goodness arise eleven demigods. Thus the verse distinguishes the developments associated with the three modes.

Key points from the purport
  • From false ego in the mode of ignorance, sound is generated along with the sense of hearing to receive it and the sky as its medium.
  • Next, the sensation of touch, air and the sense of touch are generated, and thus from subtle to gross all of the elements and their perceptions are generated.
  • From false ego in goodness come eleven demigods: the deities of the directions, the wind and the sun, Varuṇa, the Aśvinī deities, Agni, Indra, Upendra, Mitra, Brahmā and Candra.

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:

From false ego in the mode of passion come the ten senses, and from false ego in the mode of goodness come the mind and the eleven demigods who preside over the senses. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. arthaḥthe gross elements
  2. tat-mātrikātfrom the subtle sensations (which themselves are derived from false ego in the mode of goodness)
  3. jajñebecame generated
  4. tāmasātfrom false ego in the mode of ignorance
  5. indriyāṇithe senses
  6. caand
  7. taijasātfrom false ego in the mode of passion
  8. devatāḥthe demigods
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”

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 this account help you understand the material origin of the senses and their objects?

Practice

Make a three-line chart linking ignorance, passion and goodness with what each produces in the translation.

Live this todayElements and Senses Develop from False EgoThis 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 11.24.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.