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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
11.25.3211.25.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.25.33

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

तस्माद् देहमिमं लब्ध्वा ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्भवम् ।

गुणसङ्गं विनिर्धूय मां भजन्तु विचक्षणा: ॥ ३३ ॥

tasmād deham imaṁ labdhvā

jñāna-vijñāna-sambhavam

guṇa-saṅgaṁ vinirdhūya

māṁ bhajantu vicakṣaṇāḥ

Translation

Therefore, having achieved this human form of life, which allows one to develop full knowledge, those who are intelligent should free themselves from all contamination of the modes of nature and engage exclusively in loving service to Me.

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.

Use Human Life for Loving Service

  1. 1

    The human form of life allows one to develop full knowledge.

  2. 2

    Intelligent persons should free themselves from all contamination of the modes of nature.

  3. 3

    The purpose is to engage exclusively in loving service to the Lord.

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:

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. First, by increasing the mode of goodness, one can defeat passion and ignorance.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasmāttherefore
  2. dehambody
  3. imamthis
  4. labdhvāhaving obtained
  5. jñānaof theoretical knowledge
  6. vijñānaand realized knowledge
  7. sambhavamthe place of generation
  8. guṇa-saṅgamassociation with the modes of nature
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “contamination”

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 am I using the opportunity of human life to develop knowledge and loving service?

Practice

Reserve a short, uninterrupted period today exclusively for loving service to the Lord.

Live this todayUse Human Life for Loving ServiceThis 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 11.25.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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