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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
11.25.711.25.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.25.8

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

प्रवृत्तिलक्षणे निष्ठा पुमान् यर्हि गृहाश्रमे ।

स्वधर्मे चानुतिष्ठेत गुणानां समितिर्हि सा ॥ ८ ॥

pravṛtti-lakṣaṇe niṣṭhā

pumān yarhi gṛhāśrame

sva-dharme cānu tiṣṭheta

guṇānāṁ samitir hi sā

Translation

When a man desires sense gratification, being attached to family life, and when he consequently becomes established in religious and occupational duties, the combination of the modes of nature is manifest.

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.

Motives Shape Religious Duties

  1. 1

    When attachment to family enjoyment leads a person to religious and occupational duties, the combination of the modes becomes manifest.

  2. 2

    Religious duties performed for promotion to heaven are in passion. Those performed to enjoy ordinary family life are in ignorance.

  3. 3

    Duties performed selflessly to fulfill one’s occupation in the varṇāśrama system are in goodness. Mundane religiosity thus operates within the modes of nature.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, religious duties performed for promotion to heaven are understood to be in the mode of passion, those performed to enjoy ordinary family life are in the mode of ignorance, and those performed selflessly to fulfill one’s occupational duty in the varṇāśrama system are in the mode of goodness.
  • The Lord has thus explained how mundane religiosity is manifest within the 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.

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:

In the admixture of the three modes we find the concept of “I” and “my,” behavior in accordance with this mentality by body, mind and words, adherence to the principles of religiosity, economic development and sense gratification, and the fixed pursuit of one’s occupational duty for material interest. A person whose character is in the mode of goodness worships Lord Hari in a spirit of devotion, without regard to profit.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pravṛttiof the path of material enjoyment
  2. lakṣaṇein that which is the symptom
  3. niṣṭhādedication
  4. pumāna person
  5. yarhiwhen
  6. gṛha-āśramein family life
  7. sva-dharmein prescribed duties
  8. caand
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: “attached”, “sense gratification”, “attachment”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.25

    In this verse: “religious”, “duties”, “varṇāśrama”

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

When you perform a duty, are you seeking enjoyment or trying to fulfill it selflessly?

Practice

Complete one ordinary duty today without seeking a personal reward.

Live this todayMotives Shape Religious DutiesThis 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 11.25.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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