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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
11.25.811.25.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.25.9

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

पुरुषं सत्त्वसंयुक्तमनुमीयाच्छमादिभि: ।

कामादिभी रजोयुक्तं क्रोधाद्यैस्तमसा युतम् ॥ ९ ॥

puruṣaṁ sattva-saṁyuktam

anumīyāc chamādibhiḥ

kāmādibhī rajo-yuktaṁ

krodhādyais tamasā yutam

Translation

A person exhibiting qualities such as self-control is understood to be predominantly in the mode of goodness. Similarly, a passionate person is recognized by his lust, and one in ignorance is recognized by qualities such as anger.

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.

Qualities Reveal the Predominant Mode

  1. 1

    Qualities such as self-control indicate that goodness is predominant in a person.

  2. 2

    A passionate person is recognized by qualities such as lust.

  3. 3

    A person in ignorance is recognized by qualities such as anger.

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:

And anger, greed and bewilderment are among the functions of the unmixed mode of ignorance. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. puruṣama person
  2. sattva-saṁyuktamendowed with the mode of goodness
  3. anumīyātcan be deduced
  4. śama-ādibhiḥby his qualities of sense control and so on
  5. kāma-ādibhiḥby lust and so on
  6. rajaḥ-yuktamone who is in the mode of passion
  7. krodha-ādyaiḥby anger and so on
  8. tamasāwith the mode of ignorance
  9. yutamone who is endowed
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: “lust”

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

Which is most evident in your recent responses: self-control, lust or anger?

Practice

When an impulse arises today, pause before acting and practice self-control.

Live this todayQualities Reveal the Predominant ModeThis 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 11.25.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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