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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
11.25.2511.25.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.25.26

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

सात्त्विक: कारकोऽसङ्गी रागान्धो राजस: स्मृत: ।

तामस: स्मृतिविभ्रष्टो निर्गुणो मदपाश्रय: ॥ २६ ॥

sāttvikaḥ kārako ’saṅgī

rāgāndho rājasaḥ smṛtaḥ

tāmasaḥ smṛti-vibhraṣṭo

nirguṇo mad-apāśrayaḥ

Translation

A worker free of attachment is in the mode of goodness, a worker blinded by personal desire is in the mode of passion, and a worker who has completely forgotten how to tell right from wrong is in the mode of ignorance. But a worker who has taken shelter of Me is understood to be transcendental to the modes of 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.

Work Under the Lord’s Guidance

  1. 1

    A worker free from attachment is in goodness, while a worker blinded by personal desire is in passion.

  2. 2

    A worker who has forgotten how to distinguish right from wrong is in ignorance.

  3. 3

    A transcendental worker follows the directions of Lord Kṛṣṇa and His bona fide representatives. Taking shelter of this guidance keeps the worker beyond the material modes.

Key points from the purport
  • A transcendental worker performs his activities in strict accordance with the directions of Lord Kṛṣṇa and the Lord’s bona fide representatives.
  • Taking shelter of the Lord’s guidance, such a worker remains transcendental to the material modes of nature.

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

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.29.10-11

Thus the devotees make the Lord’s transcendental qualities the objects of their senses, as stated by the Lord Himself: nirguṇo mad-apāśrayaḥ.

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. sāttvikaḥin the mode of goodness
  2. kārakaḥthe performer of activities
  3. asaṅgīfree from attachment
  4. rāga-andhaḥblinded by personal desire
  5. rājasaḥthe performer in the mode of passion
  6. smṛtaḥis considered
  7. tāmasaḥthe performer in the mode of ignorance
  8. smṛtifrom remembrance of what is what
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”, “material”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 11.25

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.25

    In this verse: “free from”

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

Am I letting personal desire or the Lord’s guidance direct my work?

Practice

Before one task today, recall a direction of Lord Kṛṣṇa you have learned and consciously follow it.

Live this todayWork Under the Lord’s GuidanceThis 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.

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