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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.
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Canto 11 · Chapter 25: The Three Modes of Nature and Beyond
11.25.1311.25.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.25.14

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.25.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

यदा जयेत्तम: सत्त्वं रज: सङ्गं भिदा चलम् ।

तदा दु:खेन युज्येत कर्मणा यशसा श्रिया ॥ १४ ॥

yadā jayet tamaḥ sattvaṁ

rajaḥ saṅgaṁ bhidā calam

tadā duḥkhena yujyeta

karmaṇā yaśasā śriyā

Translation

When the mode of passion, which causes attachment, separatism and activity, conquers ignorance and goodness, a man begins to work hard to acquire prestige and fortune. Thus in the mode of passion he experiences anxiety and struggle.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Passion Brings Anxiety and Struggle

  1. 1

    When passion overcomes ignorance and goodness, attachment, separatism and activity become prominent.

  2. 2

    Under passion’s influence, a person works hard to acquire prestige and fortune.

  3. 3

    This pursuit brings anxiety and struggle rather than freedom from distress.

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 25: The Three Modes of Nature and Beyond

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The substance, place and result of activity, along with the time, the knowledge underlying action, the activity itself, the performer, his faith, his level of awareness, his spiritual progress and his destination after death, all partake of the three modes and manifest variously in terms of distinctions and hierarchies.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yadāwhen
  2. jayetconquers
  3. tamaḥ sattvamboth ignorance and goodness
  4. rajaḥpassion
  5. saṅgam(the cause of) attachment
  6. bhidāseparatism
  7. calamand change
  8. tadāthen
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.25

    In this verse: “attachment”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 11.25

    In this verse: “distress”

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

Where does my desire for prestige or fortune bring anxiety into my work?

Practice

Pause during one task today and notice whether the desire for recognition is making you anxious.

Live this todayPassion Brings Anxiety and StruggleThis 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 11.25.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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