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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
11.25.3111.25.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.25.32

Mukti· Liberation
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

एता: संसृतय: पुंसो गुणकर्मनिबन्धना: ।

येनेमे निर्जिता: सौम्य गुणा जीवेन चित्तजा: ।

भक्तियोगेन मन्निष्ठो मद्भ‍ावाय प्रपद्यते ॥ ३२ ॥

etāḥ saṁsṛtayaḥ puṁso

guṇa-karma-nibandhanāḥ

yeneme nirjitāḥ saumya

guṇā jīvena citta-jāḥ

bhakti-yogena man-niṣṭho

mad-bhāvāya prapadyate

Translation

O gentle Uddhava, all these different phases of conditioned life arise from work born of the modes of material nature. The living entity who conquers these modes, manifested from the mind, can dedicate himself to Me by the process of devotional service and thus attain pure love for Me.

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.

Loving Service Ends Material Bondage

  1. 1

    The conditioned soul falsely imagines himself to be the enjoyer of material nature. This generates work whose reactions bind him to repeated birth and death.

  2. 2

    Loving service to the Lord counteracts this fruitless process. By conquering the modes manifested from the mind and dedicating oneself to the Lord, one can attain pure love for Him.

  3. 3

    Actual liberation is residence in the eternal kingdom of God, where life is full of bliss and knowledge.

Key points from the purport
  • The words mad-bhāvāya prapadyate indicate the attainment of love for God or of the same state of existence as that of the Supreme Lord.
  • The conditioned soul falsely imagines himself to be the enjoyer of the modes of nature, and thus a particular type of material work is generated, the reaction of which binds the conditioned soul to repeated birth and death.
  • This fruitless process can be counteracted by loving service to the Lord, as described here.

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 25: The Three Modes of Nature and Beyond

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

It is only by practicing the yoga of pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord that one can conquer the three modes, which arise originally from the mind. After obtaining a human body, which has the potential for developing knowledge and realization, a person who is intelligent should renounce association with the three modes of nature and then worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etāḥthese
  2. saṁsṛtayaḥcreated aspects of existence
  3. puṁsaḥof a living being
  4. guṇawith the material qualities
  5. karmaand work
  6. nibandhanāḥconnected
  7. yenaby whom
  8. imethese
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.25

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 11.25

    In this verse: “love”

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 am I trying to be the enjoyer rather than dedicating myself to the Lord?

Practice

Choose one small act of devotional service today and do it for the Lord’s pleasure rather than your own enjoyment.

Live this todayLoving Service Ends Material BondageThis 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 11.25.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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