1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 26: The Aila-gītā
11.26.1611.26.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.26.17

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Ailasince 11.26.7inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → UddhavaKing Aila → himself

किमेतया नोऽपकृतं रज्ज्वा वा सर्पचेतस: ।

द्रष्टु: स्वरूपाविदुषो योऽहं यदजितेन्द्रिय: ॥ १७ ॥

kim etayā no ’pakṛtaṁ

rajjvā vā sarpa-cetasaḥ

draṣṭuḥ svarūpāviduṣo

yo ’haṁ yad ajitendriyaḥ

Translation

How can I blame her for my trouble when I myself am ignorant of my real, spiritual nature? I did not control my senses, and so I am like a person who mistakenly sees a harmless rope as a snake.

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.

Take Responsibility Instead of Blaming Others

  1. 1

    Purūravā frankly admits that Urvaśī is not to blame. He was ignorant of his spiritual nature and had not controlled his senses.

  2. 2

    Mistaking a rope for a snake creates fear and anxiety, although the rope cannot bite. Similarly, mistaking the Lord's material energy for an object of personal enjoyment brings illusory fear and anxiety.

  3. 3

    Purūravā suffered because he considered Urvaśī an object of his own enjoyment. The purport identifies his attempt to exploit her external form as his offense.

Key points from the purport
  • When a person mistakes a rope for a snake, he becomes fearful and anxious.
  • After all, it was Purūravā who mistakenly considered her to be an object of his personal enjoyment, and therefore he suffered the reaction by the laws of nature.
  • Purūravā himself was the offender for trying to exploit the external form of Urvaśī.

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:

Such a person, fully dedicated to the Supreme Personality, is liberated from the influence of Māyā ; even while continuing to reside in this world created by illusion he is totally untouched by it. Those souls, on the other hand, who are bound up by Māyā are devoted only to their bellies and genitals.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.26
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kimwhat
  2. etayāby her
  3. naḥto us
  4. apakṛtamoffense has been done
  5. rajjvāby a rope
  6. vāor
  7. sarpa-cetasaḥwho is thinking it to be a snake
  8. draṣṭuḥof such a seer
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 11.26

    In this verse: “offense”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 11.26

    In this verse: “fear”

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

Am I blaming someone else for distress rooted in my own desire to enjoy or control?

Practice

Notice one blaming thought today and identify the expectation of personal enjoyment behind it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTake Responsibility Instead of Blaming OthersThis 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 11.26.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories