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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.26.16

Who is speaking and story frame

बोधितस्यापि देव्या मे सूक्तवाक्येन दुर्मते: ।

मनोगतो महामोहो नापयात्यजितात्मन: ॥ १६ ॥

bodhitasyāpi devyā me

sūkta-vākyena durmateḥ

mano-gato mahā-moho

nāpayāty ajitātmanaḥ

Translation

Because I allowed my intelligence to become dull and because I failed to control my senses, the great confusion in my mind did not go away, even though Urvaśī herself gave me wise counsel with well-spoken words.

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.

Wise Counsel Requires Sense Control

  1. 1

    Urvaśī herself gave Purūravā wise counsel in well-spoken words. Yet his great mental confusion did not go away.

  2. 2

    He admits that he allowed his intelligence to become dull and failed to control his senses. Hearing good advice was not enough.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that Urvaśī warned him against trusting women or their promises. Despite her frank warning, he remained fully attached and suffered great mental anguish.

Key points from the purport
  • As described in the Ninth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the goddess Urvaśī plainly told Purūravā that he should never trust women or believe their promises.
  • Despite this frank advice, he became fully attached and thus suffered great mental anguish.

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 26: The Aila-gītā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

What is the worth of the education, austerity, renunciation, reception of the Vedas, solitary living and silence of one whose mind becomes stolen away by the body of a woman? Learned men should distrust their six mental enemies, headed by lust, and thus avoid associating with women or with men who are controlled by women.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.26
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bodhitasyawho had been informed
  2. apieven
  3. devyāby the goddess Urvaśī
  4. meof me
  5. su-uktawell-spoken
  6. vākyenaby words
  7. durmateḥwhose intelligence was dull
  8. manaḥ-gataḥwithin the mind
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 11.26

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.26

    In this verse: “attached”

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 sound advice have I heard but failed to follow because of attachment?

Practice

Choose one piece of wise counsel you have neglected, and take one small step to follow it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWise Counsel Requires Sense ControlThis 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 11.26.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.