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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 28: Jñāna-yoga
11.28.1611.28.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.28.17

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.28.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

अमूलमेतद् बहुरूपरूपितं

मनोवच:प्राणशरीरकर्म ।

ज्ञानासिनोपासनया शितेन-

च्छित्त्वा मुनिर्गां विचरत्यतृष्ण: ॥ १७ ॥

amūlam etad bahu-rūpa-rūpitaṁ

mano-vacaḥ-prāṇa-śarīra-karma

jñānāsinopāsanayā śitena

cchittvā munir gāṁ vicaraty atṛṣṇaḥ

Translation

Although the false ego has no factual basis, it is perceived in many forms — as the functions of the mind, speech, life air and bodily faculties. But with the sword of transcendental knowledge, sharpened by worship of a bona fide spiritual master, a sober sage will cut off this false identification and live in this world free from all material attachment.

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.

Cut False Identification With Spiritual Knowledge

  1. 1

    False ego has no factual basis, yet appears through the functions of mind, speech, life air and body.

  2. 2

    Under its influence, the pure soul accepts a material covering as his ultimate self. This false identity can take many forms, such as a great man, a beautiful lady or an oppressed worker.

  3. 3

    Transcendental knowledge is like a sword sharpened by worship of a bona fide spiritual master. With it, a sober sage cuts false identification and lives free from material attachment.

Key points from the purport
  • The word bahu-rūpa-rūpitam, “perceived in many forms,” also indicates that the false ego is manifest in the belief that one is a demigod, a great man, a beautiful lady, an oppressed worker, a tiger, a bird, an insect and so on.
  • By the influence of false ego, the pure soul accepts some material covering to be his ultimate self, but such ignorance can be removed by the process described in this verse.

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 28: Jñāna-yoga

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

By the mercy of a bona fide spiritual master, one can understand the Absolute Truth and come to appreciate the nonspiritual nature of the material body and its extensions. Desisting from engagement in material sense enjoyment, one then becomes satisfied in the ecstasy of the self.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.28
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. amūlamwithout foundation
  2. etatthis (false ego)
  3. bahu-rūpain many forms
  4. rūpitamascertained
  5. manaḥof the mind
  6. vacaḥspeech
  7. prāṇathe life air
  8. śarīraand the gross body
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 11.28

    In this verse: “attachment”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 11.28

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 11.28

    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

Which material identity do I tend to accept as my ultimate self?

Practice

Write down one bodily or social identity you strongly hold, and reflect that this material covering is not your ultimate self.

Live this todayCut False Identification With Spiritual KnowledgeThis 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 11.28.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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