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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
11.28.3211.28.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.28.33

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

पूर्वं गृहीतं गुणकर्मचित्र-

मज्ञानमात्मन्यविविक्तमङ्ग ।

निवर्तते तत् पुनरीक्षयैव

न गृह्यते नापि विसृज्य आत्मा ॥ ३३ ॥

pūrvaṁ gṛhītaṁ guṇa-karma-citram

ajñānam ātmany aviviktam aṅga

nivartate tat punar īkṣayaiva

na gṛhyate nāpi visṛjya ātmā

Translation

Material nescience, which expands into many varieties by the activities of the modes of nature, is wrongly accepted by the conditioned soul to be identical with the self. But through the cultivation of spiritual knowledge, My dear Uddhava, this same nescience fades away at the time of liberation. The eternal self, on the other hand, is never assumed and never abandoned.

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.

The Eternal Self Never Changes

  1. 1

    The eternal soul is never assumed or abandoned. It remains the same and does not undergo transformation.

  2. 2

    The modes of nature create the gross body and subtle mind according to previous fruitive activities. These coverings are imposed upon the soul.

  3. 3

    By cultivating spiritual knowledge, one gives up the ignorance of identifying material consciousness with the self.

Key points from the purport
  • It is emphasized here that the eternal self is never assumed or imposed as a material designation, nor is it ever abandoned.
  • The modes of nature, however, create the gross material body and subtle mind as a result of one’s previous fruitive activities, and these gross and subtle bodies are imposed upon the soul.
  • Rather, he should give up the gross ignorance of material consciousness by cultivating spiritual knowledge, as indicated here.

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:

He will never again become bound up by the laws of karma. The man who is liberated and established in discrimination will under no circumstances seek false enjoyment by indulging in material sense gratification.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.28
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pūrvampreviously
  2. gṛhītamaccepted
  3. guṇaof the modes of nature
  4. karmaby the activities
  5. citrammade varied
  6. ajñānamthe ignorance
  7. ātmaniupon the soul
  8. aviviktamimposed as identical
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.28

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.28

    In this verse: “material”

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 changing feature of my body or mind do I tend to treat as my permanent identity?

Practice

Reread the translation and identify one bodily or mental designation that is not your eternal self.

Live this todayThe Eternal Self Never ChangesThis 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 11.28.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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