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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 25: The Three Modes of Nature and Beyond
11.25.2311.25.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.25.24

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

कैवल्यं सात्त्विकं ज्ञानं रजो वैकल्पिकं च यत् ।

प्राकृतं तामसं ज्ञानं मन्निष्ठं निर्गुणं स्मृतम् ॥ २४ ॥

kaivalyaṁ sāttvikaṁ jñānaṁ

rajo vaikalpikaṁ ca yat

prākṛtaṁ tāmasaṁ jñānaṁ

man-niṣṭhaṁ nirguṇaṁ smṛtam

Translation

Absolute knowledge is in the mode of goodness, knowledge based on duality is in the mode of passion, and foolish, materialistic knowledge is in the mode of ignorance. Knowledge based upon Me, however, is understood to be transcendental.

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.

Knowledge of Kṛṣṇa Goes Beyond Goodness

  1. 1

    In goodness, one recognizes a higher spiritual nature, but this alone does not give perfect knowledge of the Absolute Truth.

  2. 2

    In passion, one studies material existence and speculates about reality. In ignorance, one seeks knowledge for sense gratification without a higher purpose.

  3. 3

    Knowledge of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is transcendental. In purified goodness, one develops a direct, loving relationship with Him through service rather than merely remaining pious.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord clearly explains here that spiritual knowledge of His supreme personality is transcendental to ordinary religious knowledge in the mode of goodness.
  • In the mode of goodness one understands the existence of a higher spiritual nature within all things.
  • Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī elaborately explains in his commentary on this verse that the material mode of goodness does not award perfect knowledge of the Absolute Truth.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 11.25.24 quotesSB 6.14.2

He quotes from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.14.2), proving that many great demigods in the mode of goodness could not understand the transcendental personality of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

But objects related to the Supreme Personality, places connected with Him, happiness based on Him, the time occupied in His worship, knowledge related to Him, work offered to Him, the performer of work who acts under His shelter, faith in His devotional service, progress toward the spiritual realm, and the destination of the Supreme Lord’s personal abode all transcend the material modes.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kaivalyamabsolute
  2. sāttvikamin the mode of goodness
  3. jñānamknowledge
  4. rajaḥin the mode of passion
  5. vaikalpikammanifold
  6. caand
  7. yatwhich
  8. prākṛtammaterialistic
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: “materialistic”, “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.25

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “absolute truth”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 11.25

    In this verse: “purified”

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

Is my learning leading me toward loving service to Kṛṣṇa, or only toward greater material understanding?

Practice

Read this verse again and identify one way your study can support loving service to Kṛṣṇa.

5

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 6.14.2

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 11.25's connections

Live this todayKnowledge of Kṛṣṇa Goes Beyond GoodnessThis 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 11.25.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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