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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
11.25.3311.25.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.25.34

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

नि:सङ्गो मां भजेद् विद्वानप्रमत्तो जितेन्द्रिय: ।

रजस्तमश्चाभिजयेत् सत्त्वसंसेवया मुनि: ॥ ३४ ॥

niḥsaṅgo māṁ bhajed vidvān

apramatto jitendriyaḥ

rajas tamaś cābhijayet

sattva-saṁsevayā muniḥ

Translation

A wise sage, free from all material association and unbewildered, should subdue his senses and worship Me. He should conquer the modes of passion and ignorance by engaging himself only with things in the mode of goodness.

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.

Worship Kṛṣṇa and Cultivate Goodness

  1. 1

    A wise sage should remain free from material association and unbewildered. With his senses subdued, he should worship Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Passion and ignorance should be conquered by engaging only with things in the mode of goodness.

  3. 3

    Cultivating goodness goes together with controlling the senses and worshiping the Lord. Devotional service remains the goal.

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:

At that time he becomes entirely liberated from the material modes, gives up his subtle body (the material mind, intelligence and false ego) and attains the association of the Personality of Godhead. By the shattering of his subtle covering, the living entity is able to come face to face with the Supreme Lord and thus achieve absolute fulfillment by His grace.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. niḥsaṅgaḥfree from material association
  2. māmMe
  3. bhajetshould worship
  4. vidvāna wise person
  5. apramattaḥnot bewildered
  6. jita-indriyaḥhaving subdued his senses
  7. rajaḥthe mode of passion
  8. tamaḥthe mode of ignorance
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: “worship”, “devotional service”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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

What could I change today to support goodness, sense control, and worship of Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside one distracting activity today and use that time to worship Kṛṣṇa.

Live this todayWorship Kṛṣṇa and Cultivate 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 11.25.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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