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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 26: The Aila-gītā
11.26.111.26.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.26.2

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.26.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

गुणमय्या जीवयोन्या विमुक्तो ज्ञाननिष्ठया ।

गुणेषु मायामात्रेषु द‍ृश्यमानेष्ववस्तुत: ।

वर्तमानोऽपि न पुमान् युज्यतेऽवस्तुभिर्गुणै: ॥ २ ॥

guṇa-mayyā jīva-yonyā

vimukto jñāna-niṣṭhayā

guṇeṣu māyā-mātreṣu

dṛśyamāneṣv avastutaḥ

vartamāno ’pi na pumān

yujyate ’vastubhir guṇaiḥ

Translation

A person fixed in transcendental knowledge is freed from conditioned life by giving up his false identification with the products of the material modes of nature. Seeing these products as simply illusion, he avoids entanglement with the modes of nature, although constantly among them. Because the modes of nature and their products are simply not real, he does not accept them.

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.

See Everything as the Lord’s Property

  1. 1

    The modes of nature appear as material bodies, places, families, countries, foods and other features of material life.

  2. 2

    A liberated soul sees everything as the Lord’s property. Although living within material energy, such a person remains free from entanglement.

  3. 3

    Māyā tempts one to take the Lord’s property for personal sense gratification. A Kṛṣṇa conscious person refuses this temptation and remains honest and pure.

Key points from the purport
  • The three modes of nature become manifest as varieties of material bodies, places, families, countries, foods, sports, war, peace and so forth.
  • In other words, everything we see within the material world is constituted of the modes of nature.
  • A liberated soul, although existing within the ocean of material energy, sees everything as the property of the Lord and is thus not entangled.

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. guṇa-mayyābased on the modes of nature
  2. jīva-yonyāfrom the cause of material life, false identification
  3. vimuktaḥone who has become completely free
  4. jñānain transcendental knowledge
  5. niṣṭhayāby being properly fixed
  6. guṇeṣuamong the products of the modes of nature
  7. māyā-mātreṣuwhich are simply illusion
  8. dṛśyamāneṣuappearing before the eyes
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “illusion”, “material”, “māyā”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.26

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.26

    In this verse: “free from”

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 do I treat as mine to enjoy rather than as the Lord’s property?

Practice

Choose one thing you use today and consciously regard it as the Lord’s property, not merely something for your enjoyment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySee Everything as the Lord’s PropertyThis 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 11.26.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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