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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
11.26.711.26.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.26.8

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

नाहं वेदाभिनिर्मुक्त: सूर्यो वाभ्युदितोऽमुया ।

मूषितो वर्षपूगानां बताहानि गतान्युत ॥ ८ ॥

nāhaṁ vedābhinirmuktaḥ

sūryo vābhyudito ’muyā

mūṣito varṣa-pūgānāṁ

batāhāni gatāny uta

Translation

That lady cheated me so much that I did not even see the rising or setting of the sun. Alas, for so many years I passed my days in vain!

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.

Use Valuable Time in the Lord’s Service

  1. 1

    Purūravā lamented that he had not even noticed the sun rising or setting. Many years had passed in vain.

  2. 2

    Attachment to the goddess made him forget devotional service to the Supreme Lord. He became more concerned with pleasing her.

  3. 3

    Those who are Kṛṣṇa conscious use every moment in the Lord’s loving service.

Key points from the purport
  • Due to attachment to the goddess, King Purūravā forgot his devotional service to the Supreme Lord and became more concerned with pleasing this beautiful young lady.
  • Thus he later lamented, having wasted his valuable time.
  • Those who are Kṛṣṇa conscious utilize every moment in the Lord’s loving service.

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:

The emperor Purūravā, who was bewildered by the association of the heavenly lady Urvaśī, later became renounced after being separated from her. He thus sang a song expressing his contempt for womanly connection.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.26
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nadid not
  2. ahamI
  3. vedaknow
  4. abhinirmuktaḥhaving set
  5. sūryaḥthe sun
  6. vāor
  7. abhyuditaḥrisen
  8. amuyāby her
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.26

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attachment”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 11.26

    In this verse: “lamented”

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 concern is taking time away from my devotional service?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today specifically for the Lord’s loving service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUse Valuable Time in the Lord’s ServiceThis 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 11.26.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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